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THE E-MAGAZINE FOR GAME CHANGERS
JULY 2020 | Issue 03 $ 0.00
MYTHS OF MALARIA
DEBUNKED!
MEDICINE MEDICINE MEANS MEANS BUSINESS BUSINESS
Know about the fate of Medicine in Nigeria and the business opportunities that exist
DR. 'GBEMILEKE BOLAJOKO EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT! Medicine's future in Nigeria
01 Editors Note
27 34
02 Meet Contributors 04 Medicine in Nigeria 24 Telemedicine 20 Coronavirus and You
24
70
CONTENT INTERVIEW 20
16 10 10 Trusting The Nigerian Medical System 16 Interview; The achiever's challenge 30 No More Excuses
7 03 0
19 Vitai Business Review
70
34 Myths of Malaria
EDITOR'S NOTE
MEDICINE MEANS BUSINESS The usual professional prophecy for every foetus is that ‘this one will be a doctor’. I remember my story when I was growing up, I wanted to be many things. The first professional dream I had and shared with my mother was to be an astronaut. Much later I thought I would grow up to be a teacher and finally when I was at a stage where deciding on what I wanted to be in life was critical to the furtherance of my studies, I decided I wanted to be a doctor. To cut the long story short, today I’m sure that’s not what God wanted for me because alas I’m an Agriculrural Economist among many other things. However, much like the younger version of me, many people still want to chase the ‘medical practitioner’ dream, some are already acquiring the necessary training and many more are already practicing. Our cover start, one of those who followed through with the medical dream, tells us in an exclusive interview about her journey so far on the road to success as a licensed medical practitioner in Nigeria; as a dental surgeon, she gives us some advice about some of the sacrifices achievers like her should be willing to make on pages 4 to 7. Debunking the myths of the novel Coronavirus disease and Malaria are Izy Abdul and myself as you would get to read later in this issue on pages 20-23 and pages 34-35. Here we would get to know some of the innovations for massive ignorance relating to health and well-being as practices in other countries. There is still a lot to be done to make sure Nigeria’s medical sector becomes one we can trust in, and Dr. Samuel Adesanya talks about trusting Nigeria’s medical system from page 10 to 13
Beyond trust is the hope for a future and our cover start talks about the future of Medicine; Telemedicine, on page 24. As a 2020 Chevening Scholar herself, she encourages other achievers like her on page 16. Finally, Dr. Toluwalashe challenges your attitude towards fitness as he finished off this issue with a remedy to staying consistent and without excuses on page 30.
IREOLUWA BOLAJOKO Editor-in-Chief
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IMPACT FEATURE
Meet Our Awesome Contributors!
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CONTRIBUTORS SAMUEL ADESANYA Dr Samuel Adesanya is a medical doctor at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Abuja. He graduated from the Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine at Babcock University in 2019. Dr. Adesanya is an aspiring Intervention Cardiologist who believes in excellence and diligence both in the place of work and every aspect of life. He is also very passionate about music and values true friendship.
'GBEMILEKE BOLAJOKO Dr Oluwagbemileke Bolajoko is a practicing dental surgeon who graduated from the University of Ibadan and trained at the University College Hospital. She currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer of Oga Dentist Dental Clinic at Yaba and performs dental and Managerial duties at Skky Dental Clinic, Ikoyi, Lagos. She has pioneered a couple of innovative initiatives to exemplify selflessness in the field of dentisty including the inception of her health Podcast. among other endavors.
TOLUWALASHE AKANDE Toluwalashe Akande is a final year student of Medicine and Surgery from the Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine at Babcock University. He is also an entrepreneur, a fitness enthusiast and trainer at a fitness outfit he owns called Amaestheticofficial. Toluwalashe is also a model and male style influencer who hopes to make a mark in the medical field in the future to come.
IZY ABDUL Izy Abdul is a BN.Sc degree holder in Nursing. She is also a well devout Christian and an entrepreneur; the CEO of Susset Collection, a fitness enthusiast and a trainer. She runs a health & wellness blog on Facebook called Izy’s health digest and is an optimistic person; a hardworking and great team player. Izy's love for health and wellness have greatly inspired the article she featured in this issue.
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DR. 'GBEMILEKE BOLAJOKO
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Medicine in Nigeria INTERVIEWED BY IREOLUWA BOLAJOKO
Dr.
Oluwagbemileke
Bolajoko
Hitherto the establishment of the
attended The University of Ibadan
aforementioned society has had a
where she studied Dental Surgery. In
huge impact on students of the
her many years of training, she
faculty of Dentistry. Before the time
witnessed the ups and downs of
of its establishment however, the
completing
a
college of medicine debate society
Federal facility in Nigeria but her
was the ruling party over all medical
story remains one we are drawn to.
and dental debate programs and Dr.
At the end of her training at the
‘Gbemileke initially participated in
University in 2017, Dr. ‘Gbemileke
competitions under the faculty of
graduated overall best in her faculty.
medicine.
All
her
However, as time went on, she felt
graduation were enough to inspire a
the need to have a debate society
standing ovation for this eventual
that echoed the voice of intellect of
outcome.
dental
During her undergraduate years, she
distinguish the faculty of Dentistry
decided early on that she wanted to
debate team from the faculty of
be successful at whatever she did;
Medicine’s.
and more importantly at the time, to
Under the faculty of Dentistry, Dr.
be successful at being a student.
‘Gbemileke
With a lot of sacrifices and discipline,
participated in the Junior chambers
she was able to excel not just in her
International
academics but also in co-curricular
competition
activities which included practices in
different faculties form around the
leadership, politics and community
University. This event was important
development among others. When
to showcase intention, leadership
challenges arose, she was one to
and management because it called
step up to the task and this led to
the need for organization only after a
one
few months after the establishment
of
the
of
an
education
events
her
up
in
until
phenomenal
achievements in the university when
surgeons
and
and
chose
her
to
team
inter-faculty that
included
13
of the team
she became one of the founding members of the faculty of Dentistry literary and Debate society.
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“I BELIEVE THE MOTIVATION FOR WORK TRULY LASTS WHEN IT IS AIMED AT SOLVING A PROBLEM; MEETING A NEED"
At the end of the event, proving a distinction and organizing a team for her faculty in such a short while was rewarded with third position after the faculty of Law which came in second and the faculty of clinical medicine eventually emerging as the winner of the tournament. Shortly after her graduation and with a license to practice dental surgery, Dr. ‘Gbemileke went on to seek employment and worked in a few private hospitals. She later returned to the University College Hospital in Ibadan where she also trained to undertake her housemanship from 2018 to 2019. And in March of 2019, she moved to Lagos where she had been deployed to undertake her youth
service
during
which
she
worked two jobs as a dentist in two different establishments. Her initial motivating factors to take up more than one employment were the same reasons many Youth Corp Members can relate to.
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Being grossly underpaid and not having
enough
to
sustain
a
reasonable living among many other troubles of living in Lagos was a good enough reason for her to pick up a second
job
to
supplement
her
monthly pay but it later became clear that more importantly, it was an opportunity to meet new people, establish meaningful relationships, understand the dynamics of sacrifice and make wise decisions in order to get where she wanted to be in life. Amidst
all
including disclosed interview,
of
these
those in
we
the
Dr
challenges, have
course
of
’Gbemileke
not this has
become a 2020 Chevening Scholar after going through a long and highly
competitive
process
that
tested all of her competencies and willingness to serve. She still lives in Lagos even after her passing out from the National Youth Service Corps Scheme and was honoured with a send forth award from the Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Ikeja where she served.
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EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE
TRUSTING
THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL SYSTEM
DR. SAMUEL ADESANYA WRITER, TNMS
If one were diagnosed of a seemingly terminal and serious condition like endstage kidney disease and required a kidney transplant to live, the response of the average Nigerian would not be to report to a local or national health facility for treatment but rather would be to engage in a medical tourism trip on a verge to find the best facility which is definitely abroad. Not many Nigerians or Africans would confidently entrust their lives to the health care provided locally, not even the government officials. The disheartening part of this situation is that only a few people can afford medical tourism and the hope of good quality treatment as the poor are left to low quality or exorbitant treatment options. Over the years, the Nigerian healthcare system generally is performing much better than it was a few years ago. In essence, we could say the healthcare system in Nigeria is actually improving, though very slowly
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EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE Under the health section of the Us news and world
There are sadly still a lot of things that are not in place
report, an American reporter and health journalist,
to guarantee a good quality of life for the citizens,
Oscar Lopez, described Nigeria’s Medical sector as one
especially when it comes to health and not enough is
‘on the mend’
being done about the situation.
“For years, Nigeria's health care network has been
Though many private institutions are springing up in
rated among the worst in the world and a 2018 study
response to these identified loopholes in the system
in the Lancet of global health care access and quality
and many medical entrepreneurs are stepping up to
ranked Nigeria 142nd out of 195 countries. But recent
the task of building innovations that will catapult the
improvements to the health care infrastructure in the
medical system to a smooth and reliable state, it will
fight to end polio, including a decentralized disease
however continue to be a slowly progressive effort if
control network and improved vaccine storage, mean
the government continues to remain unwilling to
the country is not only on the brink of eliminating this
invest wholeheartedly in the sector.
debilitating illness but also better equipped to fight other deadly diseases”, were the words this journalist
According to a review of the major public health
used to describe the state of the health system in
problems in Nigeria written by Faisal Muhammad, ‘the
Nigeria.
inadequate
programs
designed
to
address
the
numerous health problems in Nigeria have led to the In the last few years, Nigeria reportedly put some
little improvement in our health status. Besides the
health and emergency programs and facilities in place
continued neglect of the importance of addressing
in response to outbreaks of existing and new infectious
public health issues would make matters worse for
diseases such as Polio and Ebola, among others. One of
poor Nigerians most of who are at the receiving end’.
the systems put in place to check the spread of
Many of the areas still left grossly unattended in Nigeria
diseases include the establishment of a series of
include; Health Insurance, mental health and the high
Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) across the
mortality
country; centralized offices made up of health experts
common illnesses such as sickle cell anemia and
from different aid agencies and government health
malaria, among others.
rate
from
noninfectious
diseases
and
workers which are overseen by a national EOC in Abuja. To a quick response to disease outbreaks, offices in
Health insurance
each state were also gradually commissioned to
As at 2015 less than 5% of Nigerians have health
coordinate immunization programs and collect data at
insurance coverage. Health care provided for free and
a local level.
as a result of an established contract between
As a result of this strategy, Nigeria was found to be one
government and non-government organizations and
of the countries that managed the Ebola disease
health care providers, are only available to a negligible
impressively hence the gradual improvement in the
percentage of the Nigerian population. In response to
health infrastructure is evidently paying off. It is
this disheartening truth, the government created
therefore implied from past successes that Nigerians
the National Health Insurance Scheme in May 1999.
may want to exercise a little faith in the system to
However, the number of Nigerians covered by the
handle the corona virus disease as tactically and
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) since its
carefully as possible without suffering too many
establishment is still a disappointing 1.5 percent of the
casualties.
population. In 2017 the minister of health declared that
Putting the praises aside for a bit, it is very evident that
the sum of N351 billion had been expended on health
Nigeria still has a lot of work to do to get its citizens to
management organizations (HMOs) so far without
exercise complete faith in the health system.
commensurate result.
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EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE Cancer care About 80,000 Nigerians die of cancer and over 100,000 are diagnosed with cancer annually. More people are dying from cancer in Nigeria because cancer and many other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are not given priority in the country's health budget. The figures for the existing specialist centers where patients can get therapy for these NCDs especially cancers are not encouraging as are only seven of such in Nigeria. Many of the cancer-related deaths in Nigeria can be attributed to a lack of knowledge and education on prevention and early detection, concerning these types of diseases. The African culture, which mostly borders around superstitious beliefs, encourages silence and places a negative social stigma on many illnesses, especially NCDs, has led to more than one-third of preventable cancer deaths. Mental health The number of psychologist and social workers in Nigeria is almost negligible as the ratio is a stunning 0.02 to 100,000. Only 12 major universities have psychiatric departments that are supposed to serve the mental health needs across the country of which the majority of mental health services is actually provided by only 8 regional psychiatric centers. Again we see the problems of cultural beliefs, lack of knowledge and adequate education in normalizing the need for an extensive mental health program and facilities across the nation. The formal mental health centers are therefore often faced with great competition from native herbalists and faith healing centers. Fake and Expired Medications Nigeria has certain fundamental challenges including poor education, high energy costs, lack of infrastructure Sickle cell anemia and Bone marrow surgeries
and inadequate access to equipment and medications
In 2020, bone marrow donor programs are not
that
supposed to be a rare occurrence since this condition is
system. However, the country also posts some of the
one that is bound to be found consistently in Africa due
poorest health indicators in Africa, including some of
to the prevalence of the vectors and pathogens in the
the lowest doctor to patient ratio, and high rates of
environment. Only a few of these donor programs exist
malaria and infectious diseases. In addition, population
in Africa and only a few medical establishments carry
growth has fueled additional health problems related
out the procedure
to road accidents and increasing social conflicts.
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is
trickling
down
into
its
healthcare
EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE
"Africa’s largest economy also faces some of its worst
It has become evident, both from statistics and
health conditions, including rising urban and lifestyle
personal experiences that the government isn’t doing
diseases in addition to historically high rates of
enough to improve the quality of health care in Nigeria.
malaria and infectious diseases as well as fake
This has given rise to the development of several
medication. This is compounded by quality and
private practices; some of which measure up to
affordability issues forcing many Nigerians to self-
international standards and have made some effort to
medicate or seek healthcare abroad “When health
provide quality health care to those who can afford to
issues arise, 71% of Nigerians will turn to self-
pay from pocket. It has also made room for medical
treatment options before consulting a professional,
practitioners to become more innovative in becoming
especially as health insurance rates lag across the
entrepreneurs and discovering new ways to improve
country, due in part to historical but widespread
health care delivery within the country and beyond.
dissatisfaction with private insurance plans. When
Some examples of such individuals include Dr. Charles
they do seek treatment, many must deplete their
Immanuel
savings, depend on money sent by family members
MOBicure; a digital health company which uses mobile
living abroad or raise funds from local family and
technology to provide solutions to some of the health
community members in order to cover the cost of
problems in Nigeria. Another impressive medical
their care” says Tope Adeniyi, CEO AXA Mansard
entrepreneur, whose idea has been phenomenally
Health.
innovative, especially for the kind of economy under
Akhimien
who
is
the
co-founder
of
which Nigeria operates, is Dr. Olamide Orekunrin. She is Summarily, the health sector of Nigeria needs to do better and progress at a faster rate. According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria alone shoulders
a helicopter pilot and also the founder and Managing ‘
Director of Flying Doctors Nigeria; West Africa’s first air ambulance service based in Lagos. Also included on
10% of the global disease burden and is making slow
this list of innovative medical entrepreneurs is Dr. Dayo
progress towards coming up with a solution. Infant and
Olakulehin who is the founder of LigandCorp. He is
maternal mortality rates are one of the highest in the
popularly known for the invention of the “D-Box” which
world. Health care practitioners are considerably lesser
is a device that automates the process of compressing
than the population of the country and yet more
a CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) bag.
workers are leaving for greener pastures in their numbers. Poverty is also a key player as more than half
Frankly and conclusively, though the future of health
of the country’s population lives on less than $1.90 a
care in Nigeria seems bleak and provides very little
day.
promise, there are evidences that slowly but eventually,
Health insurance is a failed project in the country as
if more health workers decide to become more
about 75% of health care payments made by citizens
innovative in creating solutions for the many problems
comes from their personal pocket, thereby making the
the health sector presents, more individuals and health
burden of health care financing unbearable for the
officials are educated and are actively educating others
average Nigerian.
on health matters in their community and more
These results in poor health care seeking behaviors and
importantly, the government becomes committed to
unhealthy self medication habits as well as late
developing a system that even itself can rely on,
presentation
perhaps there may be a less grim future for health care
in
health
care
facilities
after
complications have set in. Seeing this tragic reality, one
in Nigeria.
can’t help but wonder what the 46 billion naira annual budget for health care is being spent on.
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FIVE FEET OUTFITS Five feet's new collection consists of clothes you can wear to remain fashionable while at home.
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FASHION WITH FIVE FEET Our new T-shirt and Joggers collection comes in many different vibrant colors and makes it easy for you to stay home and stay comfortable.
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INTERVIEW Our cover star is truly inspiring. In an exclusive interview we had she gave us some insight into a few things many people can relate to.
#2020 CHEVENING Despite everything you’ve had to deal with SCHOLAR as a person who aspires for greatness even in the midst of doubt and environmental suppression, how have you forged ahead to make the best out of your circumstances?
"As a high achieving person, a lot of your goals, struggles and issues tend to be minimized or trivialized because everyone else thinks things are going great for you"
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EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE “I believe I am that kind of person that wants to make
validity of the practices they took to as an alternative to
the best out of life and myself regardless of where I am
seeking proper healthcare. It became obvious to me
and therefore having to constantly motivate myself
that most people did not know the right things to do
even in the midst of low motivation has been a
when it came to seeking good health. The shocking
constant struggle I have had to overcome having in
factor was that not only uneducated people partook in
mind the comforting understanding that there is an
these harmful practices and something had to be done
end goal. When you are a self motivating person, you
to reach out to as many people as possible; hence my
will have a lot of personal challenges even apart from
podcast was born. When I started my podcast, the level
external challenges.
of ignorance in many people was my motivation and so
There has been the challenge that every young person
I decided to name it ‘The Debunked Podcast’. My
trying to make headway faces; the internal battle every
endeavor quickly became rewarding as people began
high achieving Nigerian has to face in the midst of our
to reach out to me to commend the impact of this
environmental, cultural and economic surroundings
initiative.”
including being underpaid, being hampered to take on external opportunities due to our nationality which is
How were you able to start and consistently run your
an unspoken barrier to the rest of the world and not
health podcast over the past one year?
many opportunities to grow among other naturally occurring setbacks.”
“I believe the motivation for work truly lasts when it is aimed at solving a problem; meeting a need. Self
You have spoken a great deal about challenges and
motivation and discipline are therefore important
forging ahead. In the midst of struggling to keep your
when it comes to achieving the goals you set for
emotional and physical life afloat, even as one who had to help other people sometimes emotionally
‘
yourself. Having a problem in mind to solve helps you to have a clear picture of what you want to do. You
every day, how were you able to create something
need to start with setting realistic goals and mapping
that was relevant to people at such an impacting
out an achievable plan for what you have in mind to do
scale?
in order to have a guide; a clear roadmap to solve the problem at hand . When you have a clear picture of
“I moved to Lagos in March of 2019 when I started my
what you want to do, work towards it by allocating the
Youth Service and for the first three months, I had to go
resources you have in such a way that you will achieve
on a long commute from the Island to the mainland
what you want.
and back by public transport. I have to mention it was
The truth is, sometimes you don’t have to be the richest
very hectic and a lot of stress however, it exposed me to
person and wait till you have all the high earned
people from various walks of life and their practices. I
materials to solve a problem. All you may need to do is
observed many more people were going through their
to start where you are in the most affordable way that
problems and the only remedies that were offered for
you can for there is always an alternative way around
common ailments were readily available but at a
things. It usually is not easy to devote yourself to a
dangerous but cheap cost.
personal project. However, you always have to remind
These drugs were offered for sale in traffic and their
yourself why you’re doing something, why you started,
hawkers advertised them with so much belief in their
what you stand to gain or lose in the process and then
ability to heal various diseases. When those who would
focus on your goals with your motives set clearly before
patronize
people
you. It is not always a straight road, you just have to
reported to either the lack of ability to seek proper help
embark on the journey with faith and hope that things
in time and or in money. The victims in question also
will become clearer and better because they eventually
always had confidence in the certainty and ethical
will”.
them
were
confronted,
these
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BUSINESS REVIEWS
VITAI BUSINESS REVIEW Vitai Associates is a platform that fosters a community of achievers for the grooming of independent game changers. Vitai Business Review is one of the accessories affiliated with the Vitai Associate Platform from where individuals who wish to be inspired by and learn from the story of successful entrepreneurs and discussed business models can access materials in written, video and audio forms. Visit any of Vitai's Social Media Pages (Instagram, twitter, Facebook or Linkedin) to become connected.
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CORONAVIRUS AND YOU
WRITTEN BY IREOLUWA BOLAJOKO & IZY ABDUL
This is a question that has been on the lips of every Nigerian in the wake of the pandemic. Many Nigerians have been more confident in the fact that coronavirus (Covid-19) is mainly targeting the country's elite, particularly politicians, than the fact that the virus is real despite warnings that the life-threatening respiratory illness is no respecter of persons and could affect anyone. In factual terms, corona virus was a disease that came into the country through people who had been abroad and in contact with internationally infected persons, and those they had interacted with after their return to Africa's mostpopulous state, which has a population of about 200 million. It is therefore not a surprise that Nigerians think the disease is only affecting the elites since they are the ones who have the means to tour international places. Nigerians therefore need a proper education about the novel corona virus, its reality
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IS THE CORONAVIRUS EVEN REAL? EVERY NIGERIAN'S QUESTION TODAY and how it can affect them regardless of their social status. In the case that you are using this article as a means to get a little more information about the novel coronavirus disease, Corona viruses are zoonotic microorganisms. This means that they can be transmitted between animals and people. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). The outbreak of this virus was first
identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and the disease has been reported to be caused by a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. Statistical data from Business Insider clearly stated that as of 27 June 2020, more than 9.9 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than 213 countries and territories, resulting in more than 496,886 deaths; more than 4.91 million people have recovered and The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has recorded more than 20,000 cases before the end June, 2019. The figures are definitely one to take any one by surprise. The sheer thought about how thousands have lost their lives to what seems like a mere flu is almost unbelievable. This perhaps is one of the many reasons why Nigerians are beginning to doubt the reality of the existence of this disease in the first place.
However, before we join the bandwagon of people who border on the mindset of an internationally sold fallacy, it may be a good idea to look into some information about what other nations are saying about this disease, how they are handling it, why the whole world would sell and believe a lie about a global life threatening disease and what they stand to gain by doing this. One thing Nigerians should be rest assured of is that corona virus is real and it exists. The validity of the existence of the virus is authenticated by selfless acts of service and unmatched transparency as seen in the case of New Zealand, a country where the health, security and vibrancy of its people takes priority.
The day the US mourned reaching a tragic milestone 100,000 novel coronavirus deaths people on the other side of the world in New Zealand celebrated a much more hopeful one: No new coronavirus cases over the prior five days.
New Zealand is one country among several others that has now officially been declared corona free. This country made every effort to inform its citizens about the reality and severity of the coronavirus disease and took note worthy steps to instill a genuine precautionary attitude in their citizens. Even when they recorded a few fatalities, this information was made clearly available and without alterations to citizens to help them place their response ability in check. Some other countries still argue that New Zealand had a natural saving grace or advantage in beating the spread and prevalence of the disease as regards to their sparse population. Being a collection of islands with obedient citizens, countries argue that the race against the eradication of the coronavirus only worked because of this natural advantage among others. However, the country was strategic in implementing key public health measures to control the spread as the Prime Minister issued lockdowns early, implemented widespread testing and contact tracing. New Zealand also benefited from a leader who communicated clearly and effectively.
Overall, the country confirmed about 1,504 cases and 22 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins' Coronavirus Resource Center. As a quick comparison the Republic of Ireland, another island nation with a similar population, has had over 25,000 cases and 1,679 deaths. Meanwhile, the US has confirmed 1.74 million cases (and counting) and, again, more than 100,000 deaths. These figures in comparison proves that the case of New Zealand is more than sheer natural luck and the determination of this nation to eradicate the disease shows that the some countries recognize the devastating effect of the pandemic and are running the race to avoid what is at stake. Summarily, early lockdown efforts, citizen's adherence to the rules, widespread testing and contact tracing, and good communication are the keys to succeeding at controlling the spread of the coronavirus disease.
According to CBS, New Zealand conducted a total of 267,435 coronavirus tests, and on May 20, it released the NZ Covid Tracer app. IMPACT MAGAZINE | 21
THE CORONAVIRUS AND YOU While released later than other countries like Singapore, the app will help to ensure the country doesn't experience a surge in cases as it begins to ease lockdowns According to the American Enterprise Institute it works by allowing users to scan a QR code at entry points at various venues. If later, they test positive for the COVID-19, contact tracers can review where the person has been and decide whether to follow up with the venues to alert them of their potential risk. In the United States by contrast, much like what is going on in Nigeria, the messaging and information system has been inconsistent, with public reactions and Presidential speech deliveries conveying inconsistency. A big problem with Nigeria today would be placing trust in the government and the people regarding the information that is in circulation. It may be harder to trust circular most especially the ones disseminated on social media due to the fact that even the Nigerian government have had past records of false information during the time of the Ebola outbreak. The question here remains, why trust them now with information about the coronavirus disease and confirmed records?
A report from Quartz Africa stated that In 2014, Nigeria’s former information minister claimed the government had acquired Ebola vaccines in preparation for an outbreak even though no vaccines existed at the time. The logical response would be to disregard common information like many people are already drawn to doing. However, the responsible action from every Nigerian should be to first believe that the pandemic is real and to keep safe in the light that the whole world stands to gain nothing by cooking up false testimony about the pandemic as the world’s economy has now officially plummeted to a state that is worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s. In clear terms, the problems of misinformation are not exclusive to Nigeria or even Africa, as antivaccination conspiracy theorists in the United States and Europe show.
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In order to take proper precaution, many trusted medical facilities have published materials to keep the whole world informed about the severity and threat that this disease poses. Among these trusted institutions is The Johns Hopkins Medicine Research body which wants the public to know that the new coronavirus was not deliberately created or released by people but rather and occasionally, a disease outbreak may happen when a virus that is common in an animal such as a pig, bat or bird undergoes changes and passes to humans. This is likely how the new coronavirus came to be. Viruses can change over time. On a final note, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, a Nigerian citizen who contracted the coronavirus disease after a visit to the United Kingdom had a few things to say in order to sensitize Nigerians about the reality and existence of the coronavirus. On the occasion of the Commonwealth Service, during which she served as the flag bearer at the event, Osowobi must have come in close contact with infected persons and disclosed her in an interview with Aljazeera news on the occasion of her survival. “It feels great to have survived COVID-19. If you see the data of people who have passed away due to the virus, they are alarming. I'm really grateful to be alive but also grateful for the experience as I am able to share with people that COVID-19 is not a hoax like many people may believe in Nigeria.” Coronavirus is real and every Nigerian should take responsibility and adhere to the safety precautions prescribed by knowledgeable experts. Every piece of information on the coronavirus should be carefully sourced from certified and trusted institutions and their corresponding websites.
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TELEMEDICINE BY 'GBEMILEKE BOLAJOKO
THE FUTURE IS HERE
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Assessing the impact of the corona virus pandemic (COVID19) on the medical practice, one of the perspectives from which we can view the impact of the pandemic is the issue of how attention has been drawn from the regular common or chronic diseases which a lot of people are already dealing with to treating confirmed symptomatic cases of patients with the corona virus; these regular patients have therefore suffered greatly in the wake of the attention that has gone to treating and controlling the spread of covid-19.
Another point of view from which we can examine the effect of the pandemic on healthcare is the fear that people now have of contracting the corona virus disease in response to visiting the hospital which has become
a
point
where
the
disease
is
more
concentrated; since symptomatic covid-19 patients are likely to visit such hospitals in the first place. There are people who are unable to access healthcare because a lot of attention has been taken away from regular problems and others who have refused to access healthcare because they are afraid to visit the hospital or dental clinic. Telemedicine therefore has proven so far to be a useful tool in the wake of Covid-19. Despite the fact that this innovation has been around for a very long time, in the most unlikely and poorest of areas like the Narayana initiative in India and even in less organized forms in places closer to us in Nigeria which usually is presented as family members placing a call to their practicing relatives in order to lodge their complaints about certain discomforts.
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EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE
One way or the other we have been practicing
which happens to be more frequently in the dental
telemedicine even in Nigeria for a long time and more
practice since a lot of dental treatments still have to be
importantly, even the organized aspect of telemedicine
face to face, the doctors have to make use of personal
has been around. In the wake of the Covid-19, a lot of
protective gears and equipment along with other
importance has shifted to being able to access
health workers and the patients who come in to
healthcare while being a safe distance away from
procure health services. That regrettably is one of the
healthcare facilities, which is one of the key protocols
biggest challenges of or up scaling telemedicine in
which has been put into law in a bid to avoid spreading
dental practice In addition, the protocols in place to
or contracting the disease. These are ways the
reduce contact and ensure safe social distancing at
pandemic has affected the medical practice negatively
Oga Dentist include hand washing and sanitizing
and positively. On the field, in order to accommodate
before entering the clinic, reduction of the number of
patients with other medical conditions while reducing
people that can escort a patient by strictly restricting
the risk of exposure,
escorts to a single number or preventing them from entering the building entirely.
telemedicine is a very useful tool because hospitals and dental clinics are places where people stand a higher
Telemedicine is not a new concept and Nigeria is just
chance of getting infected if proper precaution is not
starting to catch up with it. More people are beginning
taken by the patients and healthcare workers alike.
to
However, one big and important adjustment that has
overambitious and unnecessary invention that they do
gained popularity is telemedicine and a lot of focus is
not need as its importance has become evident in the
going into reducing unnecessary hospital visits or
wake of the pandemic. At Oga Dentist a lot of people
shortening the number of clinic visits required by
are booking appointments and consultations online. It
making the first few appointments virtual either by
is easier to get people to see why they need medical
phone calls or video calls
services when online visibility and virtual interactions
realize
that
this
technology
is
not
just
an
take priority. This can go a long way in convincing more At Oga Dentsist where I currently serve as the Chief
people of the need to seek healthcare.
Operations Officer, we have implemented a virtual consulting
book
Nigeria is taking advantage of this innovation as more
appointments ahead to talk about their symptoms and
and more hospitals around the country and especially
problems and from there we can determine whether
in areas where the corona virus is most prevalent are
they need to come in to have a procedure done or be
taking
dismissed with or without a prescription that they can
platforms
get on their own after the virtual consultation. The
appointments online easier and scheduling pharmacy
patient is therefore protected from exposure to
visits and drug refills; in essence automating the whole
possible infection points since they do not have to
process from consultation to prescription delivery all in
come in physically for simple consultations. However,
a bid to cut down the frequency of visits to the
in cases where patients have to come into the clinic,
hospitals for very minimal interaction.
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platform
where
IMPACT MAGAZINE
patients
can
advantage that
by
building
make
online
healthcare
conducting
medical
EXCLUSIVELY MEDICINE
The advantages of telemedicine are numerous and some include saving a lot of time that medical practitioners did not previously realize that they could save. A lot of times, innovation and the wide adoption of it, are birthed from a profound need. The general attitude in most parts of Africa is that there is a general unwillingness to do things the smarter way unless a pertinent need arises without much of an alternative. This pandemic is therefore going to force a lot of sectors to think about how they can change the way they deliver services efficiently and effectively including medical services. This innovation will go a long way in improving the health services rendered to Nigerians at large by relieving
the
regularly
overworked
medical
practitioners of unnecessary consulting time, reducing waiting time and increasing productivity on behalf of patients
in
respect
to
the
current
problem
of
insufficient doctors to patient ratio. Telemedicine is here to stay and the world of medicine in Nigeria is excited about the embrace of this innovation because of the many advantages it proposes especially since the likelihood of a post-COVID era is slim. The pandemic is already defining how we live and the many more adjustments we will make moving forward.
It is therefore safe to say that not much is going to change when it comes to making things easier for everybody in ways that we have not previously considered especially when it comes to medicine in Nigeria. Adopting a style that we are not used to which however makes things easier and faster for all players in the game of health and medicine is definitely something we need in Nigeria seeing as the figures, particularly the ratio of practitioners to patients, have
"Telemedicine is here to stay and the world of medicine in eria is excited about the embrace of this innovation because of the many advantages it proposes especially since the likelihood of a postCOVID era is slim."
not been one to favour a seamless, impressive and readily
available
service
hitherto,
among
other
problems of Medicine in Nigeria.
IMPACT MAGAZINE | 27
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Laafi Table Water Lagos State, Nigeria +234 816 274 5589
@laafi_waters
IMPACT MAGAZINE | 29
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
NO MORE EXCUSES FEATURE
SECRETS TO FITNESS: The winning formula
By Toluwalashe Akande
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IMPACT MAGAZINE
For every person that aspires to be fit but is not achieving the desired goal or is struggling seriously even to the point of desertion, a quick fix to such problems is to assure you that there is a secret formula to help you stay on fitness’ winning team. The secret formula is thus; firstly, you will need to take a seat and brew some tea which you can seep on while reading through this article. The second secret would be to do some soul searching and ask yourself some questions under the directives that would be listed in this write-up. For every individual on the road to fitness, regardless of the level of fitness attained, there are some pertinent questions that should be asked which need to reflect the individual’s plan, purpose and passion to start or sustain that person on his/her fitness journey.
HEALTH & WELLNESS SECRETSTO FITNESS: THE WINNING FORMULA
For many people, fitness usually does not have a finish line as it is a continuous process to maintain a particular physique or health status. For some however, participating in fitness routines is usually just a temporary fix to help with losing some weight. Some of these questions should be answered personally, while others may require knowledge and insight from a professional, either physically or by contacting an online coach from a trusted source on the internet. The first question; What is Fitness? Physical fitness is classified broadly into two categories. The first category which is Health-related fitness, is the physical training required to stay healthy and reduce the risk of injuries and diseases. Performance-related fitness is the second category and it involves routines that require individuals to achieve a physical goal like playing a sport or sculpting an aesthetic body. What do I want to achieve? You need to determine what you want out of your fitness journey before you even embark on it at all. This will help you to determine the activities or physical fitness components that you need to focus on. Do I want to lose weight, be fit or take on a physical activity? Do I want to bulk up and add mass, be more athletic, be faster, or build endurance? Do I want to get a 6-pack, a flatter tummy or build a bigger booty? Depending on what your fitness goals are, you might find one or more of the five components of physical fitness more valuable to you than others. These components include cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility and body composition.
“When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable” Lt Dr. Myles Munroe Purpose therefore is an important ingredient for any endeavor. It is always better to know and clearly state what you want to achieve. Why do I want to be fit? A lot of times, people get frustrated when they can’t get started towards achieving a goal. The feeling of sadness and guilt is more common when they can’t seem to get the right kind of motivation to start or continue their workout routines, eat right, go on that mornings or evening run/jog and hence, lose weight. The inability to start or commit to a workout routine is due to the fact that many times, people don’t have a reason, a deep seated motivation. In essence, they don’t have a why. A strong why is what wakes you up early in the morning to hit that gym or get dressed for that jog. It fuels your mission and builds discipline to achieve your end result. Your ‘why’ should be personal to you and it is allowed to include a range of many different reasons according to your goals. Think of your why as an entity that owes you money, a lot of money. Hold on to it tightly until produces every single ounce of result. How do I go about achieving my fitness goals? When you know why to need to start a workout routine, you need to know how you would go about it. Knowing how to embark on your fitness journey helps you to take your first action step. It is very important to note that when making a list of the workout routines you need to undertake and the frequency with which you will carry out these routines, you have to be realistic with what you can and cannot do. Setting unrealistic workout limits and routines will discourage consistency and the overall achievement of your fitness goals. IMPACT MAGAZINE | 31
HEALTH & WELLNESS How then is the best way to go about achieving one’s fitness goal(s)? There are three important phases for drafting workout routines. The first is the Planning phase and therefore choosing carefully those routines and periods that suit your fitness level.Planning is followed by Implementation which entails doing the actual work as planned and then Evaluation to know whether or not the chosen routines have been effective over the specified length of time. Where should I workout? The question of where to workout is one that helps you to get real with what you want, why you want it, how and how fast you want to see results. Whether you will hit the gym, take a run across a field or workout at home, will depend on your goals, convenience and circumstances. A good example would be the Covid-19 pandemic and how fitness enthusiasts had to adjust to working out at home. If you want to improve on your cardio respiratory endurance and you don’t have a treadmill or a jump rope around you, you will have to take a run or cycle; which are outdoor workouts as opposed to the former which are indoor exercises. When should I workout? When to workout depends on your time and what is convenient for you. Your workout frequency depends on your personal schedule. Personally, I prefer to hit the gym early before anyone wakes up. It gives me this ‘Smash your goals while others sleep’ feeling, and it usually is a great fuel for my day. However, whether you choose mornings or evenings if you aren’t too tired, is totally up to you. A personal opinion from me as a fitness trainer and enthusiast is that everyone who is serious about achieving one thing or the other should get a fitness journal. This goes a long way in helping you to document and keep track of your workout frequency, your diet which may be specified with caloric measurements, and your periods of daily rest. It is good to note days when you fall short and miss out on your workout, days when you shorten your sleep or even cheat with your meals. This is the best thing you can do for yourself. 32 |
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Also, make sure to review the journal weekly. This will give you more insights into your fitness journey and help you to make the appropriate adjustments where necessary. “Muscle is torn at the gym, fed in the kitchen and built at rest.” This saying indicates the importance of the three major aspects of achieving a fitness goal. This includes the work or exercise routine, the nutrition and the rest or recovery aspects of maintaining a healthy balance while on a workout journey. Attaining a balance and making sure one aspect of one’s health is not suffering at the expense of the workout routines can be ensured by having a well drawn out workout plan as mentioned earlier, a diet plan and a rest plan. When drawing out a feasible and balanced fitness plan, you must be careful to consider the degree to which your fitness plan is properly fit with your time, finance and fitness level, again to achieve a realistic outcome. Taking timeout to rest after your routines cannot be over-emphasized. If you don’t set out rest days in your plan, your body would set its own rest days for itself. Since evaluation comes in last, it is the aspect of fitness that most people don’t follow up on. Fitness experts rarely publicly talk about this aspect and a lot of people are not aware of the existence and importance of this last phase. It is however a real thing and a plus to those who follow it. It helps to avoid stagnancy, and prevents frustration from lack of results. In addition, achieving any goal involves accountability, first to yourself and then maybe to someone else you can have as an accountability partner. Enough of making excuses about why you haven’t realized a particular goal as it relates to fitness. This article has a few things that can motivate and guide your fitness process and all you need to do is get up and get to work. As a fitness trainer, I have interacted with these questions and techniques to approaching fitness and I have seen it work for many people. My hope is that the success told as a result of adhering to these prescriptions will include yours sooner or later.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
"As a high achieving person, a lot of your goals, struggles and issues tend to be minimized or trivialized because everyone else thinks things are going great for you"
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MEDICAL MISCONCEPTIONS
MYTHS ABOUT MALARIA Malaria will always be inherently endemic
BE INFORMED, BE EMPOWERED!
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M O S Q U I T O E S
M A L A R I A
M Y T H S
IREOLUWA BOLAJOKO
M A L A R I A
D O E S
N O T
K I L L
According to WHO, malaria still kills an estimated 660,000 people globally each year, with victims mostly being children under the age of five in subSaharan Africa.
C A U S E
M A L A R I A
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites that are spread to people through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquito vectors. Of the 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, P. falciparum is the most deadly. When left untreated, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness and death.
E A T I N G
B I T E
A L L
M A L A R I A
G A R L I C
B E F O R E
I
S L E E P
W I L L
M O S Q U I T O E S
There’s no scientific evidence to support this. Garlic does produce a sulphur compound known as allicin which has some anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic activities. Researchers have looked at its impact on mice that have been infected with malaria. In mice, use of allicin leads to a reduction in the number of malaria parasites in the blood, the higher the dose of allicin, the longer the mice survived. But no research has been done on its effect on the human immune system. Garlic oils are marketed as insect repellents but their efficacy is uncertain.
Y O U M O S Q U I T O E S
O N L Y
Only about 30 to 40 of the 3 500 mosquito species can transmit malaria. Anopheles mosquitoes are one of those species which transmits malaria. Only the females of these species transmit the disease. Mosquitoes spread other diseases apart from malaria. There are two types of mosquitoes that bite mostly at night; the Anopheles mosquito that transmits malaria and its noisier cousin, the Culex mosquito which spreads lymphatic filariasis, (elephantiasis) that presents as severe swelling in the arms, legs or genitals. But there are other mosquitoes, such as the Aedes mosquitoes which are easily identified by their zebra stripped legs and are active mostly during the day. They spread viruses that cause dengue, zika, Chikugunya and rift valley fever.
R E P E L
M O S Q U I T O E S
S P R E A D
C A N
N E V E R
B E
I M M U N E
D A Y T O
A year-long study in Western Kenya showed that 15% of the mosquitoes bite between 6pm to 9pm while the majority which amounts to about 85%, bite from 9pm till morning.
M A L A R I A
Passive immunity is usually developed across sub-Saharan Africans where the disease is holoendemic (essentially every individual in a population is infected). This protective immunity ceases soon after the individual leaves the endemic malaria area. On return they are at greater risk of contracting malaria, as they usually take no precautions.
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