MEDICAL WORKERS TURN LADOKE AKINTOLA TEACHING HOSPITAL TO WAR COLLEGE

As the battle for the soul of medicine deepens in Nigeria and medical workers flex their muscle in what has been a beauty pageant, the workers from the Medical Laboratory department in Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital (LTH), Ogbomosho got more than what they bargained for at about 4:30pm on Wednesday when the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr. Olakulehin reportedly came with the hospital security men to drag the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) out of the laboratory in order for the Pathologists to carry out their duties.

According to a source in the hospital, the MLS left the lab and began protest action in front of the Lab, displaying placards to show their disapproval of the happenings in the hospital.

As the protest continued, the press crew from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) drove into the premises to capture the event. As they made to interview the Chairman of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (AMLSN), the CMAC came back from his office to question the press men on what their mission was, thus disrupting the interview.

We gathered that the CMAC and a Consultant from the radiology department Dr. Aremu and other Medical Doctors began to struggle the camera with the press man, while the MLS formed a covering around him to avoid him being beaten, which led to a near fist cuff between the Scientists and the Physicians.


The battle got fierce as Dr Aremu accuosted a Medical Laboratory Scientist holding a Samsung Galaxy tablet, which he thought was being used to film the ugly sight.

Our sources stated that attempts by Aremu to take the phone from the victim resulted in him blowing the MLS personnel, who used the phone to defend himself, thus destroying the phone.

Not done with spoiling the phone, the CMAC ran after the MLS worker and held him by the trouser with his hand inside his, like a wanted criminal waist.

When the NTA crew finished and made to leave, the CMAC we gathered ordered the security men to shut the gate and held them hostage for one hour, until the News Manager of NTA came to the hospital. The appearance of the News Manager led to a shouting bout as the CMAC told them that their filming the event was illegal.


Probably angered by the CMAC word, the Journalist with the camera was asked to “roll the camera” in his word.

The words jolted the CMAC who later agreed to grant them interview before allowing them to leave.

Another source revealed to us that the CMAC, “If you want it in a civilised way I would give it to you,and if you want it in an “NURTW” way I would give it to you”, while threatening to get them sacked.CMAC denies...When contacted by our reporter, the CMAC denied ever using security to chase the MLS out of the lab.

He stated that the pathologists were supposed to be on call duty, but the lab was denied them access by the Scientist and as the most senior management staff on ground, he had to intervene.


Explaining that the management has been taken to the Court in Ibadan by the Scientists union, and they have urged those who cannot work till the verdict comes out, while their salaries will still be paid to them.

“Doctors were to be taking calls once in week and they are all aware. Now when it is the turn of the doctors to take calls, you refused them entry into the laboratory that they cannot enter. I happen to be the most senior management staff at that material time and I walked in there when it was reported to me that the scientists were obstructing the doctors”

“I told them to leave the lab, they refused; in fact they ignored me for almost ten minutes until the hospital security had to persuade them to leave the place. Now the next thing they did, about one and half hours later were to invite press men into the laboratory”, he explained.

He noted that the intrusion of the pressmen into the lab was unethical to the medical profession, as the pictures that will be taken by the press will show the patient result, as well as their names, thus intruding into the privacy of the patients.

This he admitted made him accoust the press, demanding from them while they should come into the hospital without the courtesy of informing the hospital management.

The CMAC challenged our reporter to go to other parts of the world and come out with a finding and see if the medical profession is being practiced the way it is done in Nigeria.

Source: Secret Reporter

6 Nigerian health workers test positive to Lassa fever

The Ebonyi Commissioner for Health, Sunday Nwangele, said on Tuesday that six medical staff of the Federal Teaching Hospital, FETHA, Abakaliki, had tested positive to Lassa fever.


Mr. Nwangele confirmed to journalists in Abakaliki that the six persons were among the 11 doctors and five nurses who were rushed to the virology laboratory in Irrua, Edo, for testing.


The state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, last Thursday announced that 11 doctors and five nurses had contracted the disease after participating in a clinical operation on a pregnant woman in the hospital.


The state NMA Chairman, Chidi Esike, told journalist at a news conference in Abakaliki that the woman and her baby died a few days after they were discharged from the hospital.


Mr. Esike also said that the state had recorded 25 deaths due to Lassa fever since 2005, adding that many of them were medical personnel.

Commenting on the development, the commissioner said: “No live was lost except for the pregnant woman and her baby through whom the health workers contracted the disease.

’’“The 16 patients were rushed to Irrua when they were discovered to be resistant to Malaria fever treatment, and six of them have been confirmed positive through a laboratory test.


“They are now undergoing intensive care treatment; and they are all stable.

“But I want to say that it is not every case of resistance to Malaria fever treatment that is Lassa fever case,’’ he said.

Mr. Nwangele said that the joint committee set up by the state Ministry of Health and FETHA on Lassa fever had evolved a two-way approach for treatmentof the disease.

According to him, the method is short and long-term control measures.“On the short-term approach, the suspected patient is administered with prophylaxis tablets, while on the long-term control the patient that is clinically down receives injectable drugs.

“The state government is partnering with FETHA on the short-term control method, while government has in this regard donated tablets and personal protection equipment to affected patients.

“The state would not accept being an endemic state, and has mapped out a land for the construction of a virology laboratory in Abakaliki,’’ he said.

Mr. Nwangele noted that most of the Lassa fever cases in the area were imported, and manifest in form of “operateable cases’’.He said that the pregnant woman through whom the health workers contracted the disease was not from the state.

“We were contacted with the dermatology team to determine her close contact and how she got the disease.

“I want to advice the public to always keep their environment clean, avoid exposing edibles to rats; if possible exterminate all rats around them,’’ he advised.(NAN)

International Nursing Day: Nurses Seek Better Public Perception

LAGOS- As Nigeria marks the International Nurses Day, some nurses criticised the attitude of the public toward nurses as being inferior to doctors in the health sector.

They said the public’s perception about the nursing profession was not encouraging the nurses to discharge their responsibilities in healthcare delivery well.

Mrs Taiwo Adetayo, the Zonal Chief Nursing Officer, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba, told newsmen that patients looked down on nurses.

“Without nurses in the health sector, there is nothing. We are the ones that are closest to the patient.

“But Nigerians believe that the doctor is all in all, which is not supposed to be.

“We are close to the patients and we will listen to their complaints, taking care of them.

“A doctor will not come now and give bed bath to a patient, doctor will not come now and carry bed pan or urinal, and they won’t touch it


“Their own is to prescribe and see that prescription order is being carried out.


“So, we are the ones that are very close to the patients and we are the ones carrying out the major job concerning patient care.”Adetayo said that people were often rude to nurses and disregarding their instructions unless it came from a doctor.


The chief nursing officer added that the attitude was improper to the training of nurses who unlike doctors were involved in the day-to-day part of a patient’s recovery.

She explained that nursing could not be done by everyone because it required passion, otherwise patients would suffer needlessly.

“I’m proud to be a nurse; the job satisfaction should be there.“If you are into a profession and you don’t have job satisfaction, I don’t see any reason why you will love doing it.

“But there are some people that believe it is a calling, where even there is job satisfaction or not, because souls are supposed to be taken care of.


“And you must put in all your effort to make sure that person receives healing.”

In her own contribution, Mrs. Grace Fakiye,Chief Nursing Officer, Clinical Teaching Unit, LUTH told newsmen that the job of a nurse had grown in recent years.

She said that nursing had a scientific aspect that exceeded the act of merely following instructions by doctors.“Nurses give care to their patients, they look at the patient in totality and see what they can do or say to drive that person towards wellness,” she said.

Source: Nigerian Observer

Uganda HIV nurse Rosemary Namubiru jailed by Kampala court

A Ugandan court has sentenced a nurse to three years in prison for negligence over the potential infection of a two-year-old boy withHIV.

Rosemary Namubiru, who is HIV-positive, was criminally negligent by using an intravenous needle, that she had accidentally pricked her finger with, on the child, the court ruled.

The child was not infected and HIV/Aids activists condemned the trial.The case was keenly watched and some papers dubbed her the"killer nurse".

The boy's father, Daniel Mushabe, welcomed the ruling, saying he hoped the case would spur President Yoweri Museveni to sign into law a bill which criminalises the transmission of HIV.


The bill - already approved by parliament - says anyone who wilfully passes on HIV could face a fine of $1,900 (£1,130), a 10-year jail term or both.

Namubiru's five-month trial has been closely followed in Uganda, reports the BBC's Patience Atuhaire from the capital, Kampala.


Many members of the public were condemned the nurse, while HIV/Aids activists defended the 64-year-old, our reporter says.

'Ruined'

Handing down sentence in a packed court room, chief magistrate Olive Kazaarwe said Namubiru lacked remorse for her actions.

Namubiru, a paediatric nurse with 30 years' experience, had maintained her innocence during the trial, and the boy was not infected with the virus.

Her lawyer David Kabanda said he was unhappy with the ruling, and was considering what to do next.

Namubiru said she had decided to administer intra-venous fluids through the boy's arm, but had difficulty finding a vein in which she could insert the needle.It was then that she accidentally hurt her finger, but had no intention of passing the virus to the boy, she said.


Welcoming the ruling, Mr Mushabe said he hoped doctors and nurses will now "think twice" in future when treating patients.


"It is extremely hard to feel happiness in such circumstances without really getting to the bottomof the matter and finding out why Namubiru, without any provocation, went out of her way toinfect our child," he said.

HIV/Aids activists said the nurse had not acted maliciously, and her life had been ruined.

The public anger towards her showthe stigma people with HIV/Aids still face, they said.Uganda won worldwide praise for its vigorous campaign against HIV/Aids, which helped reduce the prevalence of the virus - which reached 30% of the population in the 1990s - to single-digit figures.However, the rate has started to rise again in recent years

Source: BBC

Uganda HIV nurse Rosemary Namubiru jailed by Kampala court-BBC

Uganda HIV nurse Rosemary Namubiru jailed by Kampala court

A Ugandan court has sentenced a nurse to three years in prison for negligence over the potential infection of a two-year-old boy with HIV.

Rosemary Namubiru, who is HIV-positive, was criminally negligent by using an intravenous needle, that she had accidentally pricked her finger with, on the child, the court ruled.


The child was not infected and HIV/Aids activists condemned the trial.

The case was keenly watched and some papers dubbed her the"killer nurse".

The boy's father, Daniel Mushabe, welcomed the ruling, saying he hoped the case would spur President Yoweri Museveni to sign into law a bill which criminalises the transmission of HIV.


The bill - already approved by parliament - says anyone who wilfully passes on HIV could face a fine of $1,900 (£1,130), a 10-year jail term or both.

Namubiru's five-month trial has been closely followed in Uganda, reports the BBC's Patience Atuhaire from the capital, Kampala.

Many members of the public were condemned the nurse, while HIV/Aids activists defended the 64-year-old, our reporter says.

'Ruined'

Handing down sentence in a packed court room, chief magistrate Olive Kazaarwe said Namubiru lacked remorse for her actions.


Namubiru, a paediatric nurse with 30 years' experience, had maintained her innocence during the trial, and the boy was not infected with the virus.


Her lawyer David Kabanda said he was unhappy with the ruling, and was considering what to do next.

Namubiru said she had decided to administer intra-venous fluids through the boy's arm, but had difficulty finding a vein in which she could insert the needle.It was then that she accidentally hurt her finger, but had no intention of passing the virus to the boy, she said.

Welcoming the ruling, Mr Mushabe said he hoped doctors and nurses will now "think twice" in future when treating patients.

"It is extremely hard to feel happiness in such circumstances without really getting to the bottomof the matter and finding out why Namubiru, without any provocation, went out of her way toinfect our child," he said.

HIV/Aids activists said the nurse had not acted maliciously, and her life had been ruined.

The public anger towards her showthe stigma people with HIV/Aids still face, they said.

Uganda won worldwide praise for its vigorous campaign against HIV/Aids, which helped reduce the prevalence of the virus - which reached 30% of the population in the 1990s - to single-digit figures.
However, the rate has started to rise again in recent years.

Nursing Graduates of National Open University Should not Entertain Any Fear - NANNM President

One of the greatest Challenges of Nursing profession in nigeria is our system of education. The present situation has a lot of limitation characterized by non availability of adequate number, and evenly distributed higher institution of learning for nurses in nigeria, drastic shortage of qualified personnel while many nurses are willing to further thier education.

The precarious situation has led many nurses to go into the volatile issue of studying 'allied courses' to nursing, the implication of what we are battling with till today.The stakeholders have however resolved to assist the association and the nursing and midwifery counil of nigeria in designing a more pragmatic abridged program to provide an academic link for willing and eligible graduates of our schools of nursing to be able to scale up and further their education without let or hindrance.

The solution lies in pursuance of degree courses in nursing science for our professional growth and development.While concerted efforts are on going and at advanced stage on actualization of NBTE Programs to provide academic certification for our registered nurse programs.


Open and distance learing is another way out of our education bottle neck in nigeria.Therefore, the national open university is a welcome development and all hands are on deck to clear the problem of accreditation while the graduates of the institution shouuld not entertain any fear.

However, following series of complaints from some nurses that their managements especially in some of the teaching hospitals refused to accept the validity of the degreee certificates awarded to nurses by the national open university of nigeria for the successful completion of the nursing program.

NANNM reported the matter to the board of the nursing and midwifery council of nigeria.The board delibrated on it, resolved and directed the management of the N&MCN to write a circular to convey the validity of the certificate as the program was approved by the national university commission.


The current suspension of admission into the school for want of a re-new accreditation is another challenge before NANNM and would be pursued accordingly with the cooperation of the N&MCN.

The nursing and midwifery council of nigeria is also working towards undertaking an accreditation visit and ensure that the program meet the expected standard.

SOURCE: AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE NANNM NATIONAL PRESIDENT ABDURAFIU ALANI ADENIJI ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL NURSES WEEK ON 12TH MAY, 2014 AT THE BARCELONA HOTEL , WUSE 11 ABUJA

GIVE US CARS OR WE STRIKE; PHYSICIANS THREATEN FG; AS THEY DRAW BATTLE LINE WITH CBN by Fejiro Oliver

For daring to give directives in the health sector that clearance must be obtained from the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) for product certification before the importation of In-Vitro Diagnostics into the country, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to go to battle with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who issued the order.

A section of the circular by the CBN with ref No: TED/FEM/FPC/ GEN/01/001, dated April 24 2014 and signed by its Acting Director (Trade and Exchange Department),Mr. J.O. Ajewole reads, “Documentation in respect of imports of IVDs shall include Certificate of Registration of the importer and product certificate issued by the MLSCN. Bonafide importers who intend to import IVDs into Nigeria are therefore advised to apply to the MLSCN for registration.”

The new NMA National President, Dr. Kayode Obembe warned the CBN to revoke the order or the nation will pay for it. This was made known during his maiden press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja after he was elected in Benin, crying that the MLSCN may have gone to lobby CBN to make such demand. He asked the CBN to withdraw the circular as there are already established bodies for such.

“Already, we have NAFDAC and SON which have been established to enforce standards. If you go on to proliferate other bodies, it will be like another import license scandal and it is not going to augur well for the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria. Let the organizations which have been charged with these responsibilities continue and we don’t need any more. That is why the CBN has to withdraw this circular with immediate effect. But if they insist, we will use every means to resist them because it is unnecessary. So if I want to do ultra scan, I must first of all go to the MLSCN to get clearance. What we are trying to do is to remove allobstacles as we have in civilized countries.”


The association promised to use every legitimate means to see that the action of the CBN do not see the light of the day; noting that such amounts to causing trouble where there is none.

Mr Obembe charged physicians to be on duty as other Medical and Health workers plan to go on strike. They also demanded from the government that their members should be given cars and ambulances, to enable them cope with emergency situations as it obtains in other developed countries especially in the US.

“All Doctors in Nigeria should be given cars and medical ambulances because wherever they are all Doctors would be able to tackle emergencies in line with global trends, especially in the United States of America. We are therefore ready to take our rightful positions in tackling emergencies. Even the kidnappers when they are sick, they go to hospitals. In order to guarantee peace, progress and harmony in the health sector, the government should tackle these naughty problems headlong without unnecessary procrastination or prevarication”, he said

Other demands made by NMA is the speedy passage of the controversial National Health Bill (NHB), Security for their members, placement of fresh medical students on Housemanship as well as overseas residency training for them.

A top medical consultant who prefers anonymity who spoke to us wondered why cars should be a priority for Nigerian doctors when such will not add value to the patients’ lives. “All of us who are inthe clinical line can buy a car for personal use, so why tell government to buy cars. Will it also get to doctors in the private hospitals? Will Nurses and Pharmacists also get these cars? I believe that Dr Obembe is not speaking for our association on this matter but himself”, he said

A staffer with the CBN confided in this newspaper that the circular is in line with global standard and no amount of blackmail can make them withdraw it. “When did they become lab scientist that they now import diagnostics equipments and why won’t they get permission from the appropriate association if they must import”, the senior staff told us.

Source: Secret Reporters

Rare 'mono mono' twins born in U.S. held hands after delivery

Twin girls born with a rare condition in the U.S. were breathing on their own, and their mom said she and her husband were able to hold them on Mother's Day.

Sarah Thistlethwaite said babies Jillian and Jenna were removed from ventilators Sunday after they were able to breathe comfortably.

"It's just hard to put into words how amazing it feels to know the girls are OK," she told The Associated Press.

The identical twin girls shared the same amniotic sac and placenta. Such births are called monoamniotic, or "mono mono," and doctors say they occur in about one of every 10,000 pregnancies.


They were born Friday in Ohio, grasping each other's hands when doctors lifted them up for their parents to see after delivery.

Thistlethwaite told the Akron Beacon Journal that this was "the best Mother's Day present ever.""They're already best friends," said Thistlethwaite, 32.

"I can't believe they were holding hands. That's amazing."Dr. Melissa Mancuso helped deliver the twins, one of several amniotic pairs she has helped deliver in 11 years. She said the twins are at risk during pregnancy of entanglement of umbilical cords, which can cause death.

Source: CTV NEWS

Sierra Leone: Girls Trade Sex for Mobile Phones - Report

Sierra Leone: Girls Trade Sex for Mobile Phones - Report

Teenage girls in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown are selling their bodies to buy mobile phones, putting them at increased risk of pregnancy and sexually.transmitted diseases, says a study by Save the Children.

"Mobile phones represent everything that an adolescent associates with being young, hip and fashionable. They are part and parcel of the idea of what they want to become, and to get them they engage in risky sexual behaviour," said Krystle Lai, the research author.


"Young girls are driven to seek older, richer men who can afford to buy them mobile phones, but the economic power in these relationships is unbalanced and influences the bargaining power of using a condom," added Lai, noting that Sierra Leone has poor sex education.

She said once girls own a phone, especially poorer girls, the maintenance and top up may mean they have to continue selling their bodies.


The research in Freetown appears to reflect a wider global trend. The report said there was growing evidence that the demand for mobile phones was among the key drivers for young girls in low-income countries to engage in transactional sex.

Girls in Freetown also use transactional sex to buy fashionable clothes, good exam results, known locally as "sexually transmitted grades", and even staple foods, researchers found.


The girls often have different partners to meet different needs.

"One girl at school was in love with three boys. One of them did her (school)assignments, one would buy her clothes,and the other one bought her phone and other things like money. One man won't do," one girl told researchers.


There are different types of man. The 'old pa' can be over 50 years old, the 'big man' is 25 to 50 years old and then there are the young guys - those are the ones the girls actually love, the report said.

"Many girls consider going with old men much better as they pay more money and they will only ask for oral sex instead of intercourse, so there is no chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases or becoming pregnant," Lai told Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Freetown.

One girl told researchers: "The 'old pa' ask ... the girls to just touch them but usually no sex. The 'big men' ask for everything, kiss, oral sex and sex.


"Many adolescent girls in the study demonstrated little understanding of HIV or other health risks surrounding concurrent relationships.

Lai said worldwide data showed an increase in teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, due to transactional sex between girls and older men.


FORCED TO SELL VIRGINITY FOR 23 CENTS (less than #40)

Parents reacted differently to their daughter's behaviour, the research said.While fathers came down hard, mothers were often fully aware of their daughter's activities and chose to ignore them, or even encourage them.


"If there is nothing at home, the mother will ask the girl to go out and 'find something'. This word is very common in the community. If your mother says this,you know what she means," said one girl.


Another described how her friend lost her virginity for an onion."My friend dropped an onion, she didn't have the money to replace it so she had to beg from a boy. The boy gave it to her for Le 1000 ($0.23) and then asked for sex. She lost her virginity to buy an onion," she said.

Lai said poverty drove mothers to make difficult decisions. "You have to step into the shoes of a mother with four children.You are poor, you may be single, and the only way that you as a mother have seen in the past that you can make some money is by using your body.

"As a mother, you can send one child out to somehow get some money, which will have a benefit for your other three children, or you have all four of your children suffer. These are the decisions that mothers face in Freetown on a daily basis."

Lai says punishing mothers is not the answer. It's sex offenders who should be penalised.

"We need income generating activities and to teach better parenting skills to mothers, who may have been brought up by teenager mothers themselves. The cycle of parenting has been broken and it's up to civil society to try and patch things up again," Lai said.

"However, sex offences must be punished to the full extent of the law, which says anybody aged under 18 years is a child, and identifies any form of sexual relationship with a child as a offence warranting five to 15 years imprisonment."


Source: Allafrica

West Africa College of Nursing Application

WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF NURSING ANNOUNCES THE AWARD OF FELLOWSHIP TO QUALIFIED NURSES

The West African College of Nursing (WACN), a specialized agency of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) – an International Health Organization with headquarters in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso wishes to advertise for qualified and interested nurses and midwives in both Anglophone and Francophone countries of the West African sub region to apply for the award of Fellowship of the College.Applicants should possess the following or higher qualifications:

(i) First degree in nursing course from approved/accredited university with 5 years’ post qualification experience.

(ii) Masters degree or PhD (will be an added advantage), with 2 years’ post qualification.

(iii) Honorary Fellows of the College forconversion, who meet the criteria are eligible to apply also.

(iv) All applicants must be currently licensed to practice Nursing/Midwifery.

1. Applicants should download application form from the college site atwww.wacn-online.com or collect form from the Secretariat or any of theWACN Chapters.

2. Applicants should make payment of non-refundable fee of $150 US Dollars payable to:

WACN account (To be provided to applicants on request from westafricancollegenursing@gmail.com) or from Chapter Chairmen.

3. A copy of the Teller/Receipt should be forwarded or scanned to the Secretariat email – nwestafricancollegenursing@gmail.com before processing of the application form which should be submitted with two recent Passport photographs and other stated documents.

4. In addition, applicants to the WACN Fellowship should have,

a. At least two publications in reputable professional journals to theircredit. An evidence of a paper accepted for publication from a reputable journal may be considered.

b. They must have completed at least one health related research work.

c. Applicants should submit a 3,000 word-paper (research, education, practice) on contemporary issues in nursing and/or midwifery in their specialty area.

d. Four(4) copies each of items No. a, b, c, must be submitted spiral bound tothe College Secretariat.

5. The shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a searching interview to be conducted by the College Panel of Assessors (Internal and External) at a scheduled date in November, 2014.

6. Results will be out by 31st December2014

7. Successful candidates will each pay Admission Fee of Two Hundred US Dollars ($200) and an endowment fee of three hundred US dollars ($300) into the West African College of Nursing Account.

All payments should be made before certification.

Certification will take place at the next BGM scheduled for March 2015 in Accra, Ghana.

Please Note:. Submission of application forms end July 31, 2014. Late submission attracts penalty. Submission of Research papers end August 29, 2014 Applicants should apply either online or contact the followings:

For Application Forms after payment ofapplication fee, Contact:

[1] The Executive Secretary West African College of Nursing 6, Taylor Drive (Off Edmond Crescent) P.M.B. 2023, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Phone: 08081245510, 08036731512, 08086095040
E-mail: westafricancollegenursing@gmail.com OR
[2] National Chapter Chairpersons (WACN) Benin Republic:Chapter Chairman, WACN c/o Chief Nursing Officer Ministere de la Sante Publique 04 BP 0461, Cotonou, Benin Republicpriscilleoyede@ymail.com

(a) The Gambia:Chapter Chairman, WACN c/o School of Nursing and MidwiferyMarina Parade Banjul, The Gambia.laminsuwareh@yahoo.com

(b) Ghana:Chapter Chairman, WACN c/o Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Ministry of HealthP.O. Box M-44 Accra, Ghana.nanaoyetia@yahoo.com

(c) Liberia:Chapter Chairman, WACNc/o CHAL, 7th Street, SinkorP.O. Box 9056 Monrovia, Liberia.Number1juaka@yahoo.co.uk

(d) Nigeria:Chapter Chairman, WACN c/o Nursing Services Department Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos Mojisola.okelola@yahoo.com

(e) Sierra Leone:Chapter Chairman, WACN c/o Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Nursing Services Department Ministry of Health and Sanitation Youyi Building, Brookfields Freetown, Sierra Leone.joanheev@yahoo.com

LAUTECH PART TIME EXAM VENUE

Sitting Arrangement(CBT) For LAUTECH PART-TIME NURSING 2013/2014 100 Level Entrance Examination


DATE: 10TH MAY 2014


TIME: 10:00AM – 12:00 Noon


NURSING --- NEW ICT

THIS INFORMATION PERTAINS TO 100 LEVEL APPLICANTS ONLY.


APPLICANTS SHOULD BE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE VENUES AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE EXAMINATION START TIME.


APPLICANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO LOG IN TO TAKE THE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION USING THEIR APPLICATION FORM NUMBER AND PASSCODE.

APPLICANTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEMPT SAMPLE CBT QUESTIONS TOMORROW, 9TH MAY 2014 (TIME: 10:00AM), AT THE NEW ICT CENTRE.


BEST OF LUCK!!!

International Nurses Week 2014: Have You Thanked A Nurse For Their Hard Work?

Florence Nightingale, born in 1820, is considered the mother of modern nursing. She made a name for herself after taking charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War.

She worked hours upon hours, tending to soldiers day and night (she was nicknamed “Lady with the Lamp”). She changed nursing from the verge of incompetency, widely influencing practices such as sanitation, military health, and hospital planning.

To this day, many of her practices are still implemented in hospitals worldwide, and the nurses are just as hardworking too.

In commemoration of them,International Nurses Week will begins today , and end on Nightingale’s birthday, May 12.

“Nurses are the first line of defense in the prevention of illness and injury,” the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration says on its website.

“They champion and promote the healthof our nation.” Indeed, that task doesn’t come easily. Ask any nurse what their hours are like, and they’re likely to tell you somewhere between 12 to 16 hoursa day. It’s not something they often complain about, though.

They’re dedicated to their work, and to showing the compassion and care that all patients need, from giving them medication to changing them, and planning their recovery to performing a whole array of tests and procedures.

They’re at their patients’ bedsides constantly.Though they tend to be targets of budget cuts, the bettering economy has given rise to hopeful projections, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which says that the number of employed registered nurses is expected to increase by 19 percent over the next eight years. That’s good news.

A February study looking into how budget cuts affected patients found that they would have a 30 percent lower chance of dying if 60 percent of the hospital’s nursing staff had a college degree and an average of six patients per shift, compared to a hospital with 30 percent of its nurses holding a degree and managing eight patients.


“The odds ratio suggest that each increase of one patient per nurse is associated with a seven percent increase in the likelihood of a surgical patient dying within 30 days of admission,” the authors wrote.Nurses will become even more integral to the health care system, as more Americans make use of the insurance they recently purchased on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces.

With an additional eight million people, not including their families, enrolled in Obamacare, there are already shortages in physicians across the country — nurses will fill part of that gap.

So, the next time you see a nurse, thank them. Sooner or later, you will find themat your hospital bedside.


Source: http://m.medicaldaily.com/international-nurses-week-2014-have-you-thanked-nurse-their-hard-work-280198

Maternal deaths falling worldwide, says WHO

Maternal deaths have fallen worldwide, dropping by 45 per cent since 1990, according to new figures.

The statistics, released by the World Health Organization, also provide new evidence on the causes of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth.The WHO says most are preventable, highlighting the need for more investment in pregnancy care.


In 1990, more than half a million women died in pregnancy or childbirth –by 2013 the figure was 289,000.But the WHO say the figure it still too high – with 33 maternal deaths around the world every hour.

The gap between rich and poor countries is wide. In sub-Saharan Africa, a 15-year-old girl has a one in 40 risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth. In Europe, that risk is one in 3,300.


The WHO says the study highlights the need for poorer countries to invest morein health care.But there is also evidence that in some rich countries such as the United States, maternal mortality is rising, say health experts.


More than one in four maternal deaths is caused by pre-existing conditions which complicate pregnancy, such as diabetes, HIV, malaria and obesity.

International Nurses Week 2014: Have You Thanked A Nurse For Their Hard Work?

Florence Nightingale, born in 1820, is considered the mother of modern nursing. She made a name for herself after taking charge ofnursing British andallied soldiersin Turkey during the Crimean War. She worked hours upon hours, tending to soldiers day and night (she was nicknamed “Lady with the Lamp”). Shechanged nursingfrom the verge of incompetency, widely influencing practices such as sanitation, military health, and hospital planning. To this day, many of her practices are still implemented in hospitals worldwide, and the nurses are just as hardworking too. In commemoration of them,International Nurses Weekwill begin on Tuesday, and end on Nightingale’s birthday, May 12.

“Nurses are the first line of defense in the prevention of illness and injury,” the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration says on its website. “They champion and promote the healthof our nation.” Indeed, that task doesn’t come easily. Ask any nurse what their hours are like, and they’re likely to tell you somewhere between 12 to 16 hoursa day. It’s not something they often complain about, though. They’re dedicated to their work, and to showing the compassion and care that all patients need, from giving them medication to changing them, and planning their recovery to performing a whole array of tests and procedures. They’re at their patients’ bedsides constantly.

Though they tend to be targets of budgetcuts, the bettering economy has given rise to hopeful projections, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics, which says that the number of employed registered nurses is expected to increase by 19 percent over the next eight years. That’s good news. AFebruary studylooking into how budget cuts affected patients found that they would have a 30 percent lower chance of dying if 60 percent of the hospital’s nursing staff had a college degree and an average of six patients per shift, compared to a hospital with 30 percent of its nurses holding a degree and managing eight patients. “The odds ratiosuggest that each increase of one patient per nurse is associated with a seven percent increase in the likelihood of a surgical patient dying within 30 daysof admission,” the authors wrote.

Nurses will become even more integral to the health care system, as more Americans make use of the insurance they recently purchased on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces. With an additional eight million people, not including their families, enrolled in Obamacare, there are already shortages in physicians across the country — nurses will fill part of that gap.

So, the next time you see a nurse, thank them. Sooner or later, you will find themat your hospital bedside.

Source: http://m.medicaldaily.com/international-nurses-week-2014-have-you-thanked-nurse-their-hard-work-280198

International Day of the Midwife 2014

As May 5th is International Day of the Midwife, I would like to take this opportunity to share some inspiring stories of midwives from around the world. In midwife-led care, women experience less preterm births, less assisted deliveries and greater satisfaction with care; contributing directly to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 by 2015. Statistics, facts and figures are always useful when making a case for your cause, but I have found that it is the personal storiesthat highlight the difference midwives make, one family at a time...

Meet Nancy Ale:How Nancy changed a whole community by giving hope to a girl

Nancy Ale is a midwife with over 30 years experience working in a public hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires is not only the capital of Argentina, but also a province with 24 districts, the size of Italy.

The living standards between the capital and the provinces are extremely different with high standards in the capital and very low standards in the communities. Nancy says that universities need to offer courses that are centered on communities, so that students develop an understanding for the needs and stop ignoring the conditions in these underserved villages.

In Argentina there is a big shortage ofmidwives and they are often limited in their scope of practice.

In 2009 Nancy joined a group of health care professionals who knew about the dire conditions in far flung districts and volunteered their services. Conditions in some of these districts are harsh as infrastructure is lacking and so are health services.

Nancy's solidarity group decided to offer their help tothe millions of inhabitants, where 300,000 births are registered yearly and 28 percent are adolescent pregnancies.

Conditions are extremely poor andstand in crass contrary to the capital. Teenagers have reverted toa cruel but attention grabbing formof protest by committing suicide. They do not want to lead the life their parents have and take their life as a form of revenge against the wealthy. It is their way of protesting against inequality in society.

Nancy's group usually drives 18 to 20 hours with several buses from the capital to reach these communities and stays there in tents for about 10 days to provide medical care. Nancy volunteers herservices and has to take vacations from her regular work. The buses are equipped with surgery equipment as well as medications. Nancy attends births, provides family planning counseling and also conducts HIV tests and vaccinations. One day during her stay with the community she met aseven-year-old girl who was living with her grandmother because both parents had died of HIV. The girl called Daniela, was terrified that she would also soon die of HIV, like her parents did. Nancy and Daniela grew very fond of each other and Nancy even considered adopting the little girl. When she learned of Daniela's worry, Nancy initiated to have the whole population of the village tested of HIV and was overjoyed when she found out that the little girl was negative. Nancy saw that Daniela lived an isolated live with almost no friends and no social support. She took it upon herself toconnect the community members with each other and organized a so-called Murga. Murgas are mini carnivals where everyone dresses up, dances and enjoys themselves.These community events helped Daniela and other community members to meet and connect with each other. Now, each time the group of health workers travelsto the community, they are being welcomed by a Murga full of happiness and community support. Nancy has not only influenced one child's life, she has changed a whole community and significantly contributed to the well-being of it. Nancy hopes to serve as a role model for many midwives that then can bring hope, joy and health to communities.

Meet Claire Wankuju:"Lucky me, I met the midwives before my birth!" Read how an International Confederation of Midwives Workshop saved Claire Wankiju's life.

Claire Wankiju says: "I was very lucky to have so many midwives around me during the third ICM Africa Regional Conference". She assisted the ICM team in organizing the conference that offered a rich scientific program along with many hands-on workshops. Claire was six months pregnant during the conference; she said "The midwives are very understanding and caring." Claire took a special interest in one of theworkshops, called "Helping Mothers Survive Bleeding After Birth." This is a workshop ICM has run in several countries in close collaboration with Jhpiego and support from Laerdal Global Health that has developed the training material for the management of postpartum bleeding. The training has been designed to reinforce existing training in basic emergency obstetric and newborn care to help learners acquire the competencies required to effectively prevent deaths from postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), using MamaNatalie, an innovative simulator.


Although Claire wasn't a participant for the ICM workshop, she had familiarized herself with the content out of interest it came in very handy a couple of months later. For her second birth Claire had had a Caesarean section, leaving her with a scar thatcould potentially rupture during the next delivery. Luckily, she did not need a caesarean for the birth of her third child -- Matthew, but afterwards Claire was bleeding heavily for a few days. She felt drowsy, and would pass out every time she was breastfeeding. Despite reassurance from doctors and nurses, after having become very familiar with the HMS-BAB workshop Claire suspected that she was having complications afterbirth, possibly postpartum hemorrhage (bleeding after birth). Claire pressed the doctors to further examine her, and they then realized the scar tissue from the previous birth had indeed ruptured. Claire needed surgery tostop the bleeding. When she woke up, she said "I was just happy to be alive. I saw how women bleed to death, and sometimes nothing gets done." Claire said that thanks to ICM she knew what postpartum hemorrhage was, and that it needstimely and effective management."If I hadn't heard about bleeding after birth and that it was a complication (which I heard duringthe ICM conference), I would have assumed that it was normal." Even though she needed surgery to survive, Claire was happy that she was alive and her child was well."Lucky me, I met the midwives before my birth. I look at my child, and I'm so happy!" Claire's child, Matthew, is healthy and doing verywell. This is a great example how the work of ICM and midwives change the world, one family at a time.

Meet Midwife Sri:Ambassador for Health Workers"With patience and persistence I have established a relationship of trust with villagers and traditional birth attendants", says midwife Sri from Bandung, Indonesia.

Back in 2003 she opened her private practice at home, alongside her work at the Regency Government Hospital at Ujung Berung in West Java to make maternity services in her region more accessible. For Sri it was not only infrastructure that posed a challenge but also the culture to deliver with a traditionalbirth attendant called "paraji". Paraji are often older women with no formal education in midwifery, who have attended many births and provide care based on their experience and ancient traditions. These practices are deeply rooted in the culture but often do not takenecessary skills into account to prevent mortal complications.

Sri desperately wanted to reduce maternal and newborn mortality inher region, but she knew that she couldn't just impose her midwifery skills on the people. "I started walking from house to house in several villages to find out who is about to give birth this month", recalls midwife Sri her initial efforts. She wanted to make herself visible and accessible to the childbearing women as well as the parajis. Whenever the villagerssent for her, by night, in the early morning or during the heat of noon and in pouring rain, Sri would always show up. She was there, no matter the time or the weather. Often when Sri came to the village to assist in a delivery, she would find people asking her for more medical advice. She neverhesitated to help; she provided medication or referred to the doctor. With her willingness to helpbeyond midwifery care she demonstrated her sincere intentions and was able to show the villagers that she was there for them. Midwife Sri was often the first contact in the health system for many of the people in the village and thanks to her services they were able to develop trust for other health workers. "Being the first point of contact, midwives are Ambassadors for other health workers", is Sri convinced. She continued to work alongside the paraji in the villages and also incorporated some of their practices into her care such as massages or the use of certain herbs. Acknowledging and integrating the parajis practices when they are beneficial for the mother's and newborn's health, helped to further develop the relationship. Parajis now trust midwife Sri so much that they bring their patients to Sri's practiceat home. This change of behavior was also supported by a new governmental rule that deliveries at a midwife's practice are free of charge and there is a monetary incentive for parajis that refer theirpatients to a midwife. Sri now also is consulted in difficult cases, for example the case of a breech position (the baby's feet are facing the uterus instead of the head). The mother was advised by a Gynecologist that she needed to have a cesarean, but she was much too scared of such a surgery. She then decided to give birth at home with a paraji, who immediately called midwife Sri. When Sri arrived, she was shocked to be dealing with a breech birth and also felt uncomfortable working against the regulation, as breech positions are not allowed tobe delivered at home. Sri admits that she often feels confused about the government's regulation and the real situation demanding immediate action and care for the patient. Also in this situation, for the sake of the mother and the baby, midwife Sri left regulatory demands behind and fully concentrated on the birth. Baby and mother are healthy and happyand very grateful to Sri. It is for these situations that Sri worked so hard for almost a decade to establish trust with parajis. That they would call her in such delicatemoments and she would be able tointervene, provide midwifery care and save lives.

Meet Kingsley Musama:"I feel proud to be making a difference asa midwife!" Read how Kingsley Musama, a male midwife from Zambia, is changing the world, one family at a time.

Kingsley Musama is a direct-entry male midwife, who has been working for 4 years under the Ministry of Health, Zambia. He is the only midwife in the eastern part of Zambia, Muchinga province(Chama district), with a population of 11,880. Kingsley works at the Chikwa Rural Health Center, and being the only midwife in the area,he also provides midwifery services at 4 other clinics. "I work in a very remote and poor area, thus I came up with the idea of a better structure - which is providing services in the communities. This initiative that I took saved many women dying from complications," said Kingsley. Among the services he offers to women and families in the community are: family planning counseling, breast cancer awareness, health and reproductive education. He has setup focus groups in his community, where he educates mothers on safe motherhood, also encouragingexclusive breastfeeding. His contribution has helped reduce the maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity levels, which dropped considerably in theeastern part of Zambia. He is also working with the government to encourage women to deliver in closest health facilities, and not at home. "I feel proud to be making adifference as a midwife" said Kingsley.

Kingsley has changed the lives of many families by offering family planning education. He advises families by giving them short-term and long-term family planning advice. Both parents usually come to consult Kingsley during the antenatal period, as fathers prefer to be involved in the process as well and support their wives. Kingsley also advises couples on contraception and health education. "However, there are many challenges that I'm facing in my everyday work: lack of electricity, shortage of equipment, no motorbikes to take women to nearest health facilities. I would like to help as many women as possible, despite all the difficulties," said Kingsley. He once assisted a woman who delivered ina bush, and she started bleeding heavily. Due to birth complications her newborn could not be saved, and the mother was having postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This was her 10th pregnancy, and her uterus was overstretched which was one of the reasons she experienced PPH. Kingsley took herto the nearest health facility wherePPH was successfully managed. Later, he advised the mother and her husband about long-term family planning, as well as healthy timing between pregnancies. It is an intervention to help women and families delay their pregnancies to achieve the healthiest outcomes for women, newborns, infants, and children, within the context of informed choice, taking into account the desired family size. Thinking ahead, Kingsley would like to pursue and advance his midwifery education. He aims to reach and help as many families as possible in his community, and continue making a difference.

Source: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5265593

International Day of the Midwife May 5th,2014

WHO joins partners in celebrating the International Day of the Midwife 2014, observed every year on May 5th.


The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) theme this year is “Midwives: changing the world one family at a time” accompanied by the overarching theme “The world needs midwives now more than ever”.


WHO takes this opportunity of this day to highlight the critical role that midwives have in ensuring the care and survival of newborn babies.

Every day, midwives around the world are to be thanked for their work in providing care to women and their newborns, in particular at the critical time around childbirth.

Much progress has been made in recent years in increasing access to skilled care at birth and the proportion of women who give birth in facilities.

Nevertheless, every year, 2.9 million newborns die in the first month of life and another 2.6 million babies are stillborn with many of these deaths occurring around the time of birth.

In addition, an estimated 287 000 women die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.The highest burden of maternal and newborn death is in low-income countries,especially in rural areas.

This year, Ministers of Health from countries around the world will discuss the“Every Newborn: an action plan to end preventable deaths” (ENAP) at the World Health Assembly in May in Geneva. With the support of WHO and UNICEF, the ENAP has been developed though a consultative process involving governments and concerned partners.


Many midwives from all regions have provided excellent inputs to the document.The ENAP highlights the critical importance of quality of care around childbirth and the immediate postnatal period for saving the lives of women and newborns, and preventing stillbirths – a triple return on investment. It recognizes that care for women and newborns - from before conception through the postnatal period - is best provided by a dedicated health professional qualified in midwifery,and that this care should be based on respect for the normal biological process of childbirth.


Professional midwives are uniquely placed to provide such care, working in teams with communities and specialists in order to create access and ensure timely recognition and management of complications when they occur.

”One of the ENAP's key objectives will be to encourage governments to allocate adequate resources for maternal and newborn health services within national health sector plans. This should include funds for the training and retention of midwives. We will continue to support countries to develop and strengthen their midwifery services as a critical intervention to save the lives of women and newborns” says Dr Elizabeth Mason, Director of WHOs Department for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health.

WHO encourages countries to create universal access to a well-educated, regulated midwifery workforce in a health system with adequate equipment and supplies, as the means to prevent up to two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths.

The Organization recognizes the pivotal role that midwives play in the provision of quality maternal and newborn health services. However, to ensure high levels of coverage and quality care, an estimated 350 000 more midwives are still needed globally.

JOHESU issues 15-day ultimatum, threatens suit against doctors

A coalition of workers in the health sector have threatened nationwide strike if government does not begin implementing over the next 15 days agreements both sides reached on worker welfare and conditions of service.

Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), an umbrella for four different unions of healthworkers, also threatened legal action against Nigerian Medical Association if doctors go on strike over labour issues.

JOHESU insists the doctors association is not a registered union and has questioned its authority to strike or negotiate salaries with government.

The agreement between JOHESU and government was reached and signed in May 2012, including reconstitution of boards of health institutions, staff promotion from levels 14 to 15 on the consolidated health salary scale for directors, and review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

The union says government is yet to implement the report of a job evaluation ordered in 2008 and a separate report on harmony in the health sector presented by a presidential committee headed by Abdullahi Bello.

At a press briefing in Abuja, JOHESU president Ayuba Wabba said, “We had negotiated desirable adjustment to the 2009 CONHESS salary table and allowances as was done for the NMA in January 2014.

Ironically, government reneged because of the threat by the NMA.

”In comments delivered by Felix Faniran, president of Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals called government action “provocative, insulting and unjust in the worst dimension.”JOHESU accused NMA of repeatedly flouting judicial pronouncements about its lack of right to strike.

“It has refused to comply with this law. But if they continue, we will be forced to take them to court,” the union said.

Source: DailyTrust

Boost for Health Care in Ondo State

Two leading pharmaceutical companies,Norvo Nordisk and Roche have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ondo State government on the care for diabetic patients.Towards this end, two diabetics support centres would be built in two hospitals inOndo State.

The Project Manager of Norvo Nordisk in Nigeria, Ameze Odia disclosed the plan of the company during the signing of the agreement between her organisation, Roche and the Ondo State government.

Odia explained that a Base of Pyramid (BOP) project would be introduced in order to break the barrier preventing people from accessing diabetes care and treatment saying the project would help to develop scalable, profitable and sustainable solutions to the benefit of allparties involved.She listed the BOP projects' benefits to include increased awareness for diabetes, early screening to prevent late complication of the diseases and to trainprofessional in diabetics management.

Other benefits to be enjoyed at the one-stop centre include medication support and periodic screening of diabetics patients noting that the projects has been established in India and Kenya where it worked.She said the One-stop Diabetes Support Centre had been established in Ikorodu General Hospital in Lagos assuring "that people with diabetes no longer have to travel far and to multiple places to receive comprehensive treatment."Nigeria is one of four countries in which Novo Nordisk has launched its Base of the Pyramid project.

Different business models have been established in India, Kenya and Nigeria. It is on the basis of successful pilot centres in Lagos that the concept is now being expanded to other states. We aim to establish at least four additional centres with the first two being Ondo State," he said.

Roche representative, Folashade Ajayi who said the company would be collaborating with other partners to reduce the spread of the disease noted that early detection would help to reduce diabetes.Ajayi pledged that Roche would supply drugs to the centres at a subsidised price while screening of patients would also be free saying the glucometer machine would be free for all patients.

Commending the two organisations, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju said the two partners came onboard at the right time saying the partners had keyed into the visions of the state government. Adeyanju said the presence of the BOP and the assistance to be rendered by the two pharmaceutical companies would help to arouse the consciousness of the public on the disease. He said the state government has embarked on periodic awareness prior to the signing of the agreement saying that awareness and screening of patients have been taken to the doorsteps of the people of the state.

He explained that the state government has partnered with the Diabetes Association of Nigeria screening people across all the 18 local government areas of the state.He said the state health sector has served as benchmark to other states in the country. He said the two BOP will be established in the State Specialist Hospital Akure and the General Hospital, Ondo.