…As Expert cautions Nigerians against nonchalant attitude toward caring for heart***
No fewer than five persons were confirmed dead and 12 reported cases on Friday due to cholera at Lafenwa, Abeokuta North local council of Ogun.
The Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr Adesanya Ayinde, said at a news conference in Abeokuta that one person died in the hospital and four in the affected communities.
He listed the communities to include Kuto, Kobiti, Abule-Otun, Lafenwa, all in Abeokuta.
Ayinde revealed that eight cases were reported from health facilities and four picked in the communities from retrospective case search and confirmed through laboratory test.
He said the State Epidemiology unit had earlier received a report of laboratory confirmed case of cholera from the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, after which it immediately swung into action.
According to him, the state government is on top of the situation, adding that it has commenced thorough investigation and currently fumigating communities to prevent spread.
He revealed that the government had conducted active case search in health facilities, pharmacy outlets and medicine vendors in the affected areas.
He further said that cholera alert have been sent to all health facilities, providing steps to take in case of suspected case.
He said the State Hospital Ijaiye, Abeokuta, had been identified as referral centre for treatment and had been provided with materials to manage cases.
“The case (index) is a 33 year- old gravid woman who presented at FMC on referral on the 19th of November from a private facility.
“She resides in Abule Otun, Lafenwa, Abeokuta but trades at Kuto Market. Prior to onset of symptoms, she ate rice (purchased from food vendor) with “pure water” at Kuto market.
“There have been prior reports of suspected cases of cholera linked to Kuto market but could not be confirmed because they had commenced antibiotics.
“A total of 12 cases (index vase inclusive) have been line-listed, eight reported from heath facilities and four picked in the communities from retrospective case search.
“One death from cases reported in the health facilities and four other deaths in the community that never reported at the health facilities but information gathered from investigation,” he said.
Ayinde said that the government, through the water corporation, would commence screening of local sources of water in the communities.
He, however, warned residents of the state to desist from open defecation, saying that any house found without toilet would be sanctioned.
He appealed to the people to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, urging them to wash their hands after visiting the toilet.
In the meantime, a Cardiologist, Prof. Ngozi Ajuluchukwu, on Friday cautioned Nigerians against nonchalant attitude toward caring for their hearts.
Ajuluchukwu gave the advice on Friday in her keynote address entitled: “My Heart, Your Heart, Our Heart”.
She spoke at the 2019 graduation ceremony, award of certificates and prizes of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)’s school graduation in Idi-Araba, Lagos.
The expert said she was given free hands to choose her topic for discussion, adding that as a cardiologist, she had to stay close to the heart.
According to her, ‘My Heart’ was all about me, ‘Your Heart’ was our inter-relationships and intertwining lives direct that we all should be neighbour sensitive.
She said that there was equal opportunity and equity for all others in things concerning health and professionalism.
Ajuluchukwu said: “For instance, your Danfo driver’s heart and health should be your concern.
“He could have a cardiac arrest while you are on board and in transit.”
The cardiologist said individual contribution was expedient for collective good, especially for the good of the patient.
She said that the advocacy lies in the power of one for the success of the whole.
Ajuluchukwu said that Nigerians need separate healthy individual heart-cells (mycotes) to collaborate and be coordinated to produce one heartbeat.
“That is the regular heartbeat needed for life! You can imagine when some cells either refused or are unable to perform their legitimate specific roles.
Also read: Cardiologist advises Nigerians against heart diseases
“The consequence is disease or the demise of both the heart and its owner,” she said.
Earlier, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer, Nordical Fertility Centre, Lagos, said, “the graduands are agents of true love for fellow brothers and sisters and are agents of care.”
Abayomi, speaking as the guest of honour, said that he recognised the role of God in the process of healing patients.
“If we truly care about the people we encounter on daily basis, we will empathise with them.
“And work tirelessly to ensure that together, we will be agents of transformation in the healthcare delivery process,” he said.
Earlier, Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Lagos University Hospital (LUTH), said that mandates of the health institution, as a foremost hospital, were patient care, teaching and research.
Bode, represented by Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of LUTH, said that in the pursuit of the mandate of teaching, LUTH established 10 schools.
They are Community Health Officers Training School; Federal School of Biomedical Engineering; School of Anaesthetist Technician and School of Basic Dental Nursing.
Others include School of Health Information Management; School of Medical and Psychiatry Social Work; School of Medical Laboratory Science; School of Midwifery; School of Nursing and School of Post Basic Nursing.
He said that in conjunction with College of Medicine, University of Lagos, LUTH also trained medical and dental students, nursing, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists and radiographers.
