Health

Health Experts Make Case For Depression Patients

Published

9 years ago

May 20, 2015

Some psychiatrists and
psychologists say lack of awareness constitutes a major challenge in the stigmatisation of people living with depression in Nigeria.
They told newsmen in Lagos last Wednesday, that continuous enlightenment programmes would help to create more awareness about the disorder in order to reduce its burden.
A Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, said that the prevalence rates of depression in Nigeria were higher due to environmental factors that contributed to its genesis.
Kadiri, who is also the Chief Medical Officer at a Lagos based private hospital, Pinnacle Medical Services said.“In developing countries like Nigeria, the prevalence rates of depression are higher because environmental factors that contribute to the genesis of depressive disorders are more preponderant.
“These include high rates of poverty, a lack of social welfare and high rates of endemic infectious diseases, to mention just a few.
While noting that depression tends to be masked by somatic symptoms, which may explain why it is under- diagnosed or under-recognised, Kadiri revealed that its.
“Prevalence rates vary from 11 per cent to 60 per cent and higher rates are observed, depending on study setting and assessment tool, “ she said.
The consultant said that the way forward to reducing stigmatisation was by creating more awareness through health promotion, seminars, and the involvement of the media.
According to her, “Other ways are through providing education in schools, government agencies, various organisations about depression, the impact on academic, work, and the importance of seeking treatment.“And most especially, people should refer them to the appropriate specialists who can treat them.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Psychiatry, University of Lagos, Prof. Joseph Adeyemi said most people did not visit psychiatrists when they felt the symptoms of depression.
He said that such attitude was due to unawareness and fear of being stigmatised, thereby making it difficult for people with depression to present themselves at the hospitals.
“Many of them will rather try to look for other explanations to their problems which will further delay their visiting the hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment, “ he said.
Adeyemi also stated that more than 90 per cent of people who were depressed were likely not to get attention when they visited regular doctors, adding that doctors tend not to diagnose the symptoms of depression and will rather talk about the physical problems than the emotional ones.
“These people attribute most of their problems to spiritual ones and so they start visiting spiritualists which will further compound their problems, “ he said.
In his words, “people’s attitude toward those suffering from depression was poor and as such, there was need for public enlightenment by mental health professionals in order to change people’s attitude.
“Such enlightenment programmes will make people understand the disorder and stigmatisation will reduce.
“People should be made to know that once symptoms of the disorder are identified, such should be referred to the health professionals for immediate attention, “
Also, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and Head, Behavoural Medicine Department, Lagos State Univeristy of Medicine, Ikeja, Dr Abiodun Adewuya, said that many unemployed graduates were likely to develop low self esteem due to unemployment in the first few years of graduation.
“Many of such graduates end up in depression; disappointment in their families and the society, which can lead to negative reactions such as violence, robbery, suicide and rape. “In order for many of them to alleviate depression, they tend to engage in substance use including drug and alcohol abuse, “ he said.
Adewuya urged the Federal Government to create a system that would allow establishment of industries where people could be employed.
“The government should provide an enabling environment including the provision of good roads and constant electricity for companies to develop in the area of production, while employing many people.
Adeyuwa stressed the need to shift education from the basic to technical work, hand- work, so that many people will be skilled in various fields, maintaining that This will reduce the burden of unemployment and therefore reduce the rate of mentally ill people in the society.
In her contribution, Dr Olubukola Hassan, Founder, Nightingale Mental Health Foundation, urged the three tiers of government to take mental health as one of their major policies.
“We will like our governments at the local, state and Federal levels to see the importance of mental health, not only for the millions who still go untreated.
“They should see the importance, also, for the economies of individual poverty and lack of well-being in our nation, she said.
According to her, there is a need for collaboration with individuals and corporate organisations in providing services in the mental health sector as well as the public and brainstorm on the way forward on issues surrounding mental health.
“This will be an opportunity for all stakeholders to identify, brainstorm and discuss significant mental health policy.
Hassan further stressed the need to stimulate the government and other agencies to increase the effectiveness of their own mental health programmes.

Health

RSG Plans Fresh Training For TBAs

Published

3 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

The Tide

Plans are in the works by the authorities in the Rivers State Ministry of Health to conduct training for Traditional Birth Attendants(TBAs) in the State.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh gave the hint while chatting with newsmen recently in Port Harcourt.
She said the training has become crucial to school the TBAs on methods and measures to complement in maternal health care.
In her words,” We are aware of of their roles, but we need to be confident that they can still play that role, especially the skills set needed to complement what government is doing.’’
Dr. Oreh explained that maternal and child care has evolved, hence, the TBAs need to be schooled,” we want them to scale up their skills, especially on high risk pregnancies.”
She continued, “ We want to make sure that our system mops up those high risk pregnancies, because we know that many of them carry out clandestine activities they are not helping us.”
Assuring of improved manpower in the State health sector, Dr. Oreh said the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration has embarked on fresh recruitment exercise for health workers to meet current challenges.
She assured that once the recruitment exercise is completed, the various health centres and hospitals will be staffed with qualified manpower to provide efficient health services in the State.

Kevin Nengia

Health

Viral Hepatitis Claims 3,500 Lives Daily -WHO

Published

3 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

The Tide

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised an alarm on viral hepatitis infection that claims 3,500 lives each day.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, the number of lives lost due to the viral hepatitis is increasing.
The disease is the second leading infectious cause of death globally — with 1.3 million deaths per year, the same as tuberculosis, a top infectious killer.
The report, released at the World Hepatitis Summit revealed that despite better tools for diagnosis and treatment, and decreasing product prices, testing and treatment coverage rates have stalled.
It, however, said, reaching the WHO elimination goal by 2030 is still achievable, if swift actions are taken now.
New data from 187 countries show that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Of these, 83percent were caused by hepatitis B, and 17percent by hepatitis C. Every day, there are 3,500 people dying globally due to hepatitis B and C infections.
“This report paints a troubling picture: despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated,” said WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He added, “WHO is committed to supporting countries to use all the tools at their disposal – at access prices – to save lives and turn this trend around.”
Updated WHO estimates indicate that 254 million people lived with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C in 2022. Half the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections is among people 30–54 years old, with 12percent among children under 18 years of age. Men account for 58percent of all cases.
New incidence estimates indicate a slight decrease compared to 2019, but the overall incidence of viral hepatitis remains high.
In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections, down from 2.5 million in 2019.
These include 1.2 million new hepatitis B infections and nearly one million new hepatitis C infections. More than 6,000 people are getting newly infected with viral hepatitis each day.
The revised estimates are derived from enhanced data from national prevalence surveys. They also indicate that prevention measures such as immunisation and safe injections, along with the expansion of hepatitis C treatment, have contributed to reducing the incidence.

Health

How Dates Boost Fertility -Research

Published

3 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

The Tide

Now, researchers in a study, suggest that date palm is an arsenal to fight infertility in couples. They found that 1-month consumption of date palm has a positive impact on the sexual function of infertile couples.
The study to investigate the effect of date palms on the sexual function of infertile couples was in the 2022 edition of the BMC Research Notes.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted on infertile women and their husbands who were referred to infertility clinics in Iran in 2019, researchers found sexual function in females (arousal, orgasm, lubrication, pain during intercourse, satisfaction) in the intervention group was significantly increased compared to females in the control group that had no date palm.
Infertility and infertility management affects different dimensions of a couple’s life. Sexual dysfunctions can appear in both partners and might provoke problems in every stage of sexual response. Infertility negatively affects the sexuality of infertile couples.
Numerous studies show that infertile women have lower sexual function than fertile women. Sexual satisfaction is strongly affected by the consequences of infertility such as reduced self-esteem, feelings of depression and anxiety, and failed sexual relationships.
The intervention group was given a palm date capsule and the control group was given a placebo. The starch powder was applied to prepare the placebo capsules.
Also, all areas of male sexual function (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction) significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group.
Infertility is not only a medical problem but also affects all personal dimensions and social life of most infertile individuals. Infertile couples are more prone to psychological problems (anxiety, depression, and stress), which may result in marital distress, social dysfunction (stigma, social exclusion, and feelings of failure), and reduced quality of life.
Infertility and infertility management affects different dimensions of a couple’s life. Sexual dysfunctions can appear in both partners and might provoke problems in every stage of sexual response. Infertility negatively affects the sexuality of infertile couples.
Numerous studies show that infertile women have lower sexual function than fertile women. Sexual satisfaction is strongly affected by the consequences of infertility such as reduced self-esteem, feelings of depression and anxiety, and failed sexual relationships.
Dates palm is known to have come from what is now Iraq. In Nigeria, dry and soft date fruits are sold out for consumption. However, in the northern part, they are added to the locally brewed alcoholic beverage to help reduce the intoxicating power.
Dates are a good source of energy and vitamins and important elements such as phosphorus, iron, potassium and a significant amount of calcium. It is also rich in phenolic compounds possessing free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity.
Since ancient times, the date palm has been used in Greece, China and Egypt to treat infertility and increase sexual desire and fertility in females. There are few studies on the effect of date palms on male and female sexual function in human beings.
Besides, studies have shown that the various parts of its plant are widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders which include memory disturbances, fever, inflammation, paralysis, loss of consciousness and nervous disorder.
Culled from Tribune online.

The researchers suggested that the improvement in male and female sexual function can be due to active ingredients and increased levels of sex hormones following the consumption of date palms since studies indicated that increasing sex hormones are effective in sexual function.

They, however, recommended more studies with a longer duration on the use of date palms on sex hormone levels in infertile couples.

Previously, a study revealed that using date palms in postmenopausal women for 1 month had a positive and significant impact on sexual desire and arousal. Another suggested that using date palms had a positive impact on orgasm, satisfaction and lubrication in women and also reduced pain during intercourse in women.

In the laboratory, administering date palms to male rats and measuring their sexual behaviours, researchers showed that sexual behaviour parameters (number of ejaculations, number of intercourse) increased compared to the control group.