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Details: Health

Liberia has been declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after 42 days with no new cases. The West African nation was one of the worst hit by the deadly virus alongside neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone. In Liberian culture hugs, shaking hands and eating from communal bowls are an important part of the culture and many expressed relief at being able to return to normal.

The medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has urged caution until the worst outbreak of Ebola ever recorded is eradicated from the entire region however. The disease is spread through physical contact with infected people. 11,005 people are known to have died from the disease in the three worst hit countries since the epidemic began in December 2013.

The Liberian authorities have pledged to maintain heightened surveillance for at least a year after being declared Ebola free. There were fewer than 20 cases reported in Guinea and Sierra Leone last week. But The U.N. Special Envoy on Ebola, David Nabarro says it is expected to be still a few months before that number comes down to zero.

Details: Ngwa Bertrand; 10.May.2015; Hits: 2563

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Details: Health

Ebola has been found in the eye of a US doctor months after he was thought to have fully recovered. Dr Ian Crozier caught the deadly Ebola virus, which has infected more than 26,000 people since December 2013, in September last year while he was working in West Africa during the latest outbreak. The 43-year-old American, who was working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the time, was treated at the Emory University Hospital’s specialised Ebola unit in Atlanta and released in October last year when Ebola was no longer detected in his blood.

Two months later he developed an inflammation and high blood pressure – which can cause swelling and potentially serious vision problems – in one eye. When Emory ophthalmologist Dr Steven Yeh drained and tested the fluid from his eye he found that it contained the Ebola virus – although Dr Crozier’s tears and tissue did not. Other survivors have reported eye problems, but exact numbers remains unknown. The virus is also thought to persist in semen for months following an all-clear.

As Dr Crozier’s tears and tissues remained free of the virus Dr Yeh believes he does not pose a public health risk – but added that survivors needed to be monitored. An account of the case was discussed by doctors at an Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference in Denver yesterday and the results published earlier today. Ebola cases in Guinea and Sierra Leone dropped to their lowest total in 2015 this week, WHO reported. More than 11,000 people have died from the virus, the vast majority in West Africa.

Details: Ngwa Bertrand; 10.May.2015; Hits: 2441

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Details: Health

Davis and Darryl are no ordinary babies, they are conjoined twins born eight months ago of ordinary parents.

Their Dad 38 year old Ndi Julius, a photographer by profession is currently out of work because he must put in full time for the children.

It is an obligation; the mother of the conjoined twins is paralyzed due to the complicated delivery.

Davis and Darryl have been coping with the odds while expecting that their salvation comes from men of goodwill.

According to experts, the babies have a chance of surviving; they have separate “indispensible” organs.

They are joined in the abdomen and the organs in thoracic cavity, usually on the left are found on the right side.

Davis and Darryl desperately need us to guarantee their lives.

Ndi Julius and kids have relocated to the Chantal Biya Foundation from his native Ndu village in the North West Region of Cameroon and cry out for help remaining positive that their supplication shall be heard.

He leaves behind his paralyzed wife who stays in despair.

The children, in spite of their state, remain playful and babble like normal kids as if to say we have survived this far and the present opportunity to the USA cannot be lost because you all are there.

The family is asking just for CFA 7.5 million, approximately $12,500 to pay for flight tickets to the specialized medical centre in the USA.

For more infos please call: +237 677 710 001

Details: Ngwa Bertrand; 01.May.2015; Hits: 3090

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Details: Health

Niger’s health minister says the death toll from the meningitis epidemic that broke out in the West African country in January has reached nearly 130. Mango Aghali said in a statement on Friday, “There are a total of 1,150 cases and unfortunately 129 deaths.” Some 70 of the deaths occurred in capital, Niamey, which was reported to be the hardest hit by the disease. “Three of the five districts” in Niamey are in “an epidemic state,” Aghali said, adding, “It is to be feared that the two others will also be the same.”

The previous death toll, announced on April 19, stood at 85 out of 908 cases across the country. The Nigerien Health Ministry has said the disease is spreading fast. The World Health Organization (WHO) says Niger, which is among the world’s most impoverished countries, is often prone to such epidemics due to its position in the so-called “Meningitis Belt” in Africa, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

People are seen gathering at the health center of Lazaret, near Niger’s capital, Niamey, on April 23, 2015. © AFP

The belt also includes parts of Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Sudan. These countries are considered hyperendemic. The populations in these countries are at the highest risk of developing meningitis, and deadly outbreaks of the disease take victims every year. Meningitis has different types. The deadly disease is often bacterial and sometimes viral, and occasionally due to fungal infections. The disease is spread through the air, causing an inflammation in the lining around the brain and spinal cord of its victims, killing them within hours. The normal mortality rate of bacterial meningitis is 10 percent. However, if the disease is diagnosed and treated early enough, most patients recover. Meningitis’ symptoms can include fever, vomiting, exhaustion, severe muscle pain and headache.

Details: Ngwa Bertrand; 25.Apr.2015; Hits: 2812

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Details: Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) says more than 26,000 people have contracted the deadly Ebola virus after its outbreak in late 2013. The UN health organization said in a report on Wednesday that 26,079 people, mostly living in the three African nations of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, have contracted the virus since December 2013. Out of the figure, according to the WHO, a total of 10,823 have lost their lives. The health body said the spread of the virus has slowed down, with 33 new cases having been reported in the week leading to April 19, down from 37 cases in the previous week. Liberia, once the hardest hit country, has reported no new cases since its last victim died in late March. Liberia is expected to be declared Ebola-free in May, if no new cases emerge. Sierra Leone and Guinea have also reported a drop in Ebola cases. “To accelerate the decline towards zero cases will require stronger community engagement, improved contact tracing and earlier case identification,” WHO said. Although there has also been a decrease in infection cases in Guinea, concerns are on the rise over reports of 163 unsafe burials of highly infected Ebola victims last week.

Red Cross workers, wearing protective suits, prepare for the burial of victims of Ebola, in Monrovia, Liberia, January 5, 2015. (© AFP)

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, and has no proven vaccine or treatment, yet, although several vaccines are under trial. It remains one of the world’s most virulent diseases, which kills between 25 to 90 percent of those who fall sick. Ebola was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976 in an outbreak that killed 280 people.

Details: Ngwa Bertrand; 23.Apr.2015; Hits: 2664

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Details: Health

With patients dying in the Bamenda General Hospital due to lack equipment and those on dialysis dying due to lack of maintenance of equipment, a mammoth crowd gathered at the Bamenda Regional Hospital recently to witness the inauguration of the Bamenda Regional Hospital Recreation Garden Project worth eight million (8.000.000F CFA) by the Regional Delegate of Public Health Dr. Ndiforchu Victor under the watchful eyes of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicines of the University of Bamenda.

A word of prayer to kick start the inaugural rituals was offered by the Rev. Azieh Williams who thanked the almighty father for the wisdom and strength bestowed on the Director of the Regional Hospital Dr. Kinge Thompson Njie in conceiving the idea of realizing such a beautiful project for the interest of his patients and community within a short period of time.

In his welcome address, Dr. Kinge expressed his thanks to all who answered present to give the ceremony the pomp and colour it deserved, particularly to the Regional Delegate of Public Health, who, despite his tight schedule, accepted to preside at the occasion. He said that his staff and him believed that a clean environment prepared to receive patients will go a long way to express more meaning to their patients as KINGS and QUEENS.

They are convinced that patients have rights and they deserve their attention, love, protection and sympathy. Within the context of a common belief among the staff of the hospital, the Director opined that they are doing everything to remain in alignment with strong instructions from the Honorable Minister of Public Health to offer quality health services without any form of discrimination. The Director then introduced Feh Fobang and Chi Roland as those who lend their technical knowhow in planting the flowers and building the garden walls and pavements.

In his inaugural speech, Dr. Ndiforchu Victor the Regional Delegate of Public Health lauded the efforts of the Director and staff in transforming the hospital into a paradise. He urged them to redouble their efforts in satisfying their patients and the general public in a town that is full of competitors by rendering quality services, which shall reflect the meaning and purpose for which the project

represents. Constructed at the entrance and exit, the garden serves as the first point of contact between the public and the hospital which sends a message of cleanliness, hard work and concern for the sick. He stressed on the need of internally and externally cleanliness amongst the personnel of the hospital and why not the buildings.

Speaking on behalf of the staff, the master of ceremony who happened to be a staff assured the delegate and entourage that they are aware of the challenges, and as such they are ready and prepared more than ever to give in their best with the support of all. The inaugurations proceeded with the cutting of the ribbon and unveiling of the inaugural plate. This was followed by snapshots and light refreshment which brought the occasion to an end.

Details: Ngwa Bertrand; 20.Apr.2015; Hits: 3360

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Flourish Doctor Article Count: 3

Meet Your Coach Dr. Joyce Akwe ... With a master's in public health and a medical doctor specialized in internal medicine with a focus on hospital medicine.

Dr. Joyce Akwe is the Chief of Hospital Medicine at the Atlanta VA Health Care System (Atlanta VAHCS), an Associate Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Faculty with Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta GA.

After Medical school Dr. Akwe worked for the World Health Organization and then decided to go back to clinical medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency and chief resident year at Morehouse School of Medicine. After that, she joined the Atlanta Veterans VAHCS Hospital Medicine team and has been caring for our nation’s Veterans since then.

Dr. Akwe has built her career in service and leadership at the Atlanta VA HealthCare System, but her influence has extended beyond your work at the Atlanta VA, Emory University, and Morehouse School of Medicine. She has mentored multiple young physicians and continuous to do so. She has previously been recognized by the Chapter for her community service (2010), teaching (as recipient of the 2014 J Willis Hurst Outstanding Bedside Teaching Award), and for your inspirational leadership to younger physicians (as recipient of the 2018 Mark Silverman Award). The Walter J. Moore Leadership Award is another laudable milestone in your car

Dr. Akwe teaches medical students, interns and residents. She particularly enjoys bedside teaching and Quality improvement in Health care which is aimed at improving patient care. Dr. Akwe received the distinguished physician award from Emory University School of medicine and the Nanette Wenger Award for leadership. She has published multiple papers on health care topics.