Health
Fruits And their Healing Powers
Watermelon:
Has a phytochemicals that helps clean the kidneys. It’s a
cooling fruit- meaning that it helps clear heat in the body.
In addition, it has nutrients that helps boosts sex. Taking watermelon for a long time is aphrodisiac.
Pineapple
This fruit has a lot of bromelain, a pain killer. But that is not all. Pineapple helps digestion, especially proteins in the body. It has lots of fibre to clean the stomach as well. The stalk and leaves of pineapple have high concentration of bromelain. If you have ulcer you need to be cautious with pineapple.
Cucumber
The dry season is not season for cucumber hence its always expensive this period. But if you feel hot as usual, then go for cucumber, since it helps to cool the body.
Cucumber helps the kidneys as well, but its power resides in its ability to soften stool. Thus it helps in clearing constipation. This fruit is ideal for those with high blood sugar problems.
Carrots
I love carrots. Its a multipurpose vegetable. Carrot is not fruit, but then many see it as fruit. Carrots are good for those with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and is packed with Vitamin A. The carotene in carrots is ideal for eye problems. Carotene is also good for skin cleansing. Many cosmetics now have carotene. It clears and skin and smoothens it. However, be careful of its high sugar, if you are diabetic.
Avocado Pear:
The season of Avocado pear is almost close, just before the heavy rains. This fruit is packed with polysaturated but healthy fat. Its ideal for those seeking to reduce fat. Many don’t know that to burn body fat, you need to use fat. It has vitamin A for eyes, as well and is good for stomach, ulcer healing and stooling- constipation. Its a skin blemish remover. Some women use it together with turmeric to clear black spots on the face and neck.
Orange
This fruit is feared by those with Ulcer. Orange has lots of flavonoids that boosts immunity. I love eating oranges with their fibre. I peal it and eat all aside the green cover. And this helps me to stool smoothly. It has lots of Vitamin C and is good for teeth, especially half ripe oranges.
Banana
Sometime last year, I told a friend who has high blood pressure to be eating banana daily, and the response was lovely. Banana has high content of pottasium. This phytochemical is good for calming nerves. Besides, banana has high carbohydrate for energy boost too. The downside of banana is its high sugar, not good for diabetics and the sugar is not good for teeth. Nonetheless, the inside peel of banana is good to heal wounds from insect bites.
Guava
This fruit has many species. There are ones that are hard, green, red, yellow and soft.
Fortunately, guava has seeds that are hard to digest and this provides the stomach with cellulose to help clear stool. On the other hand, If you eat unripe guava, it hardens your stool.
The leaves of guava are medicinal. It helps cure diarrhea and when it is boiled and drank as tea, it helps clear the system of cholesterol. And that is why its ideal for reducing weight.
Grapes
Grapes are rear in this part, but there is a specie that is common in Africa and Nigeria. This specie is good for weight control as well. The magnesium in grape makes it effective against headaches, especially migraine.
Lemon
Among the citrus fruits, Lemon has high usage than other ones like orange, lime and grapes.
Lemon has high vitamin C, which is effective for boosting immunity, curing fever and cleansing the lymph cells.
It also has cosmetic usage. For instance, lemon fluid can be used to clear black spots and pimples when mixed with turmeric dried powder. Lemon helps the gums as well to cure scurvy or bleeding gums.
Lime
This little oranges are usually green. But the ripe ones are also good and effective, even though with lesser power.
The use of lime against intestinal worms have been used for ages. But lime is good for stomach pains. It helps control internal bleeding as well.
However, using lime for a long time can destroy intestinal walls and worsen ulcer. So if you have ulcer, then go for lemon. Lime is antiseptic, use it to clean sores. Press the fluid into warm water and wash sores.
11.Apples…
This is most respected of all fruits. It has lots ofpottasium, magnesium, and vitamin C.
Apple is ideal to boost immunity, reduce high blood pressure and the total body system. The mucilage in apple is good for the stomach. Remember “an apple a day keeps away the doctor”.
12..Apricot…
In local parlance, some call it “ajireejaa”, “ipapa” among the Ibo’s and ijaws.. It has high carotene due to its yellow colour with Vitamin A. Its effective for eyes. The mucilage is good for stomach. The vitamin C strengthens your body.
13. Pawpaw…carica papaya”
This pod of fruit with black hot seeds is an economic fruit- all its part are medicinal. The seeds are good to remove intestinal worms. The whitish fluid of pawpaw tree heals wounds. The fruit which is either red or yellow is packed with lots of vitamins, but its effective against constipation.
14. Tomatoes…
Tomatoes is a vegetable. But it looks more like fruit. It’s red and full of lycopene, a nutrient that fights ailments as cancer, helps build immunity. Men who have prostrate cancer are advised to chew lots of tomatoes. The cover of tomatoes is very good to remove hard stools from the stomach. The seeds are high in roughage for easy stooling.
Tomatoes is also good for controlling high blood pressure. The phyto nutrients help dilate the blood vessels so as to bring down blood pressure
By: By Kevin Nengia
To address the increasing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities, the State Ministry of Health has trained healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault cases.
The Director, Public Affairs in the ministry, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, in a statement on Monday said the training equipped health workers with the knowledge and skills to provide professional, compassionate, and timely care to survivors.
Dr Folasade Oludara, Director, Family Health and Nutrition, State Ministry of Health, said the growing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities necessitated the upskilling of healthcare workers who are often the first responders to survivors.
Oludara, represented by Dr Oluwatosin Onasanya, Deputy Director, Child Health, said the government recognised the critical role of health professionals in both clinical management and legal documentation of sexual assault cases.
She explained that the training was designed to ensure healthcare workers are adequately equipped to identify, document, and manage sexual assault cases effectively.
According to her, the training will strengthen Lagos’ coordinated health system response to gender-based violence.
She disclosed that the state government had already provided equipment and specimen collection tools to health facilities, noting that the training complemented this investment by building the competence of personnel handling such sensitive cases.
Oludara explained that doctors and nurses at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels who serve as first contact points for survivors were carefully selected from all 57 LGAs and LCDAs, particularly from areas with higher incident rates.
The SGBV Programme Manager, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Juradat Aofiyebi, emphasised that the capacity-building initiative was a strategic step toward improving survivor-centred healthcare delivery and prosecution outcomes.
Aofiyebi added that the training underscored the government’s commitment to reducing the prevalence of sexual assault through a robust, multi-sectoral approach.
“The training provides healthcare workers with the knowledge to properly identify survivors, document findings accurately, and provide comprehensive care, all of which contribute to justice delivery and prevention of repeat offences.
She said the ministry would sustain such training to ensure that every survivor who presented at a Lagos health facility received quality, non-judgmental care.
Mrs Adebanke Ogunde, Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, highlighted the importance of medical documentation in sexual assault trials.
She explained that most convictions hinge on the quality of medical reports and forensic evidence provided by healthcare professionals, noting that medical reports served as vital corroborative evidence in court, particularly in cases involving children.
“Your medical reports are crucial; they can determine whether justice is served or denied,” she said.
Ogunde reminded health workers of their legal duty to report suspected sexual assault cases to the police or the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
Similarly, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Consultant Family Physician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), underscored the importance of timely medical attention, psychosocial support, and non-stigmatising care for survivors.
Sodipo explained that immediate presentation within 72 hours of assault improved chances of preventing infections and collecting viable forensic evidence.
He commended Lagos State for sustaining its inter-agency collaboration and continuous professional training on SGBV.
Sodipo, however, called for the strengthening of DNA and forensic capacities, improved insurance coverage, and better remuneration for healthcare workers.
“We must sustain motivation and continuous retraining if we want to retain skilled professionals and enhance justice outcomes,” he added.
Also, Mrs Margret Anyebe, Claims Officer, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), said domestic and sexual violence response had been integrated into the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.
Anyebe explained that survivors of sexual and domestic violence are covered for medical treatment, investigations, and follow-up care under the state’s Equity Fund for vulnerable groups.
“Hospitals are to provide first-line care, document, and refer survivors appropriately, while LASHMA ensures prompt reimbursement and oversight,” she said.
The technical session of the ongoing National Council on Health (NCH) meeting on Monday reviewed 35 out of the 82 policy memos submitted ahead of full Council deliberations scheduled for later in the week.
Dr Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Technical Session of the 66th Regular meeting of the NCH ongoing in Calabar, Cross River.
He said that 10 of the memos considered were recommended for Council’s approval, eight were noted, and 18 stepped down for further work.
According him, two additional memos were deferred and will be re-presented after revisions are made.
At the reconvening of the session, Ms Kachallom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that there were five memos from the Coordinating Minister of Health, adding that they were all related to the Department of Food and Drugs.
Daju said that the memos were stepped down on Monday and scheduled for re-presentation.
She also provided clarification on the previously contentious healthcare waste-management memo, explaining that the N3.5 million requests tied to the proposal had already been repurposed by the Global Fund.
“I have followed up, and I am informed that the funds have been reprogrammed. Just so we put it to rest, we will not be discussing that memo anymore,” she said.
She also said that the final memo considered on Monday was the proposal for the inclusion of telemedicine services under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“The next memo scheduled for presentation is the proposal for the establishment of Medipool as a Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO) for medicines and health commodities in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Dr Oritseweyimi Ogbe, Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), formally notified the Council of the establishment of Medipool, a new public-private GPO created to strengthen the procurement of medicines and health commodities nationwide.
Presenting an information memorandum at the technical session, Ogbe explained that Medipool was the first nationally approved GPO designed to leverage economies of scale, negotiate better prices, and ensure quality-assured medicines.
He said this was beginning with primary healthcare facilities funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to him, Medipool was established after a proposal to the Ministry of Health, followed by appraisals and endorsements by the Project Implementation and Verification Committee (PIVAC) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
“It subsequently received Federal Executive Council approval, with MOFI now owning 10 per cent of the company’s shares. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has also approved its operations.
“Under the model, Medipool will work with Drug Management Agencies (DMAs) in all states to aggregate national demand and negotiate directly with reputable manufacturers to obtain competitive prices and guaranteed-quality supplies.
“The platform will function as a one-stop shop for DMAs, who will then distribute medicines to health facilities through existing state structures.”
Ogbe added that while Medipool will initially focus on BHCPF-supported primary healthcare centres, it was expected to expand to other levels of care nationwide.
“The organisation will provide regular reports to the ministry of health and participate in national logistics working groups to ensure transparency, oversight, and technical guidance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Day One of the 66th NCH technical session opened with a call reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage under the theme “My Health, My Right”.
“The delegates also adopted the amended report of the 65th NCH, setting the stage for informed deliberations.
The implementation status of the 19 resolutions from the previous Council was also reviewed, highlighting progress and gaps.
The authorities of Police Clinic in Port Harcourt have reported high cases of Malaria in its facility.
The revelation was made by Mrs Udoh Mba Robert, a Chief Superintendent of Police and senior medical personnel in the Clinic.
She told The Tide that,”the Hospital admits sixty (60) to seventy (70) patients in a month”.
On how the facility runs, she stated that the hospital is under the National Health Insurance Scheme as most patients are treated almost free.
She maintained that staff of the hospital have been trained professionally to manage health issues that come under the purview of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Mrs. Robert explained that malaria treatment also falls under NHIA, as patients are expected to pay only 10 per cent for their treatment while the government takes care of the outstanding bills.
NHIA, she further stated covers treatment and care for uniform personnel like the police force, military men, civil servants and all others working for the government.
Urging the public to seek professional medical attention, Mrs. Robert said the facility is open to workers in the federal services, especially police staff.
Favour Umunnakwe, Victory Awaji, Excel Nnodim