AKSMEDIAS

Two fresh infections of wild polio virus have emerged in Borno state, threatening Nigeria’s progress toward a polio free status. It was due to be declared polio free by the World Health Organisation if it made it to July 24 next year without a new case. The last known infection was July 2014. Health authorities have been silent about the new cases in Gwarzo and Jere local government areas of Borno. There had been concern about children on camps for displaced people in Borno missing immunisation as Nigeria struggled to prevent a flare up. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency which coordinates immunisation nationwide cannot respond. Instead officials directed questions to the Federal Ministry of Health. Health minister Isaac Adewole also declined speaking to Daily Trust, when approached at Family Planning Stakeholders Meeting at Aso Villa Banquet Hall Thursday morning. It is uncertain how the WHO will handle the resurgence. WHO and Rotary, which co-funds polio...

– Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus and it is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. – Lassa frequently infects people in West Africa as it results in 300,000 to 500,000 cases annually and causes about 5,000 deaths each year. – The primary animal host of the Lassa virus is the Natal multimammate mouse, an animal mostly found in sub Saharan Africa. – After an incubation period of six to 21 days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops as it affects  several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys. – Nonspecific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. – Lassa virus is zoonotic, that is, it is transmitted from animals, in that it spreads to humans from rodents, specifically multimammate rats. – Infection in humans typically occurs by exposure to animal excrement through the respiratory ...

Got skin patches or discoloured spots? Professional GP Deyo Famuboni gives us an insight into why your skin pigment might change colour Focusing mainly on our face and hands, we often have a wash and go policy for the rest of our skin. The skin is the largest organ in our bodies and therefore deserves to be well looked after. This not only prevents premature ageing and maintains a young, supple appearance, it is also a protective barrier from a lot of environmental toxins – higher than usual in London thanks to our air quality. The skin is also fantastic at giving warning signs that something is wrong with our bodies. Darker spots on the skin can often occur as a result of internal changes or when we aren’t functioning optimally.  Here are common causes of this and what to do about it. 1.  You are on the combined hormone contraceptive A great invention which has transformed our lives, the pill has so many benefits including regulating periods, preventing th...

I got a few: “So, you know it’s a boy?!” and “How do you know it’s a boy?!” in the last few weeks.  Well, you know that if I do, it is NOT because of an ultrasound, since I am going ultra-sound free.  But I do have an 80-90% shot of being right on determining my baby’s gender, and actually selecting it beforehand.  How?  Wouldn’t you like to know! For about four years now, my hubby and I have been off birth control [BC].  It was not only because we were going to attempt to conceive, but because it is totally evil–yes, one day I will tell you all about that too, but for now, let’s just agree that elevated hormone levels in women, for extended periods of time, sans pregnancy, are never “good” or “normal”.  As we were getting off BC we did it, first, to clean my body out, grow in our intimacy and start planning for a baby.  We used Creighton Model method, combined with fertility awareness method [FAM]–using the be...

From workout jeans to  Kefir Water , Healthista’s Bodyologist blogger Helen Foster brings you six health trends not to miss this month Motivation Must Do: Fitness First’s new Bio-age test This Thursday there’s a good chance I’m going to get some news that makes me cry. I’m booked in to test the new Fitness First Bioage test. It’s a 45-minute assessment offered to their members looking at factors like waist measurement, blood pressure, flexibility, fitness and strength that determine your ‘real age’ and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to come out as younger right now! However the good news is that if you do come out as biologically older (or even just score low in a few places), you’ll get a fitness programme specifically designed to correct those weaknesses. On other words a workout that makes you younger; now that I can get on board with.   Erm….okay: Workout Jeans I admit the whole wearing ‘active wear’ at dinner/drinks/shop...

Pimples are a normal skin condition that affect many people. Pimples are an inflammation of the skin in which the sebaceous glands (oil glands) become infected with bacteria , swell up, and fill with pus. Excess sebum secretion by the oil glands is the primary cause behind this problem. Pimples generally occur on the face, neck, back and shoulders. Though not a critical condition, pimples can make a person feel miserable due to their appearance. There are a lot of lotions and medicines on the market to treat pimples but they can take time. Many natural methods are effective in treating pimples within a very short time period. Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of pimples fast. 1. Ice Ice can be used to quickly reduce the redness, swelling and inflammation of pimples. It helps in improving blood circulation to the affected area, and in tightening the skin pores and removing dirt and oil accumulated on the skin. You can use ice cubes or crushed ice, whichever is conven...

  Men’s skin has specific needs. Grabbing whatever soap is in the shower may seem practical to a man but it may cause more damage on his skin than keep it clean and healthy. Women’s soap tend to be milder as it is designed for delicate and sensitive skin which may not thoroughly cleanse a man’s thicker, oilier, and rougher skin. Plus, men’s active lifestyle and inherent hairiness makes them sweat more. Thus, men need specially formulated soap that can wash off sweat and deep-seated dirt and prevent the growth of bacteria. Men’s thicker and rougher skin also requires extra strength exfoliation to get of rid dead skin cells that may build up and give you that unsightly scaly look. Exfoliation is also important to eliminate sebum that may clog pores and cause acne breakouts on your back or other parts of your body. Unfortunately, bath products for women may not have the right exfoliant properties for men’s skin. Another reason why you should stay away from women’s s...

Taking a bath is the best way to clean one’s self. It should be a part of our daily grooming regimen to make us smell fresh and feel confident all day long. However, getting in the shower and just standing under the hot water for a couple of minutes may not get rid of the deep-seated dirt, sweat and bacteria that make us feel greasy and smell nasty. Here are tips on how to shower properly and wash away grime and potentially dangerous microorganisms from our body effectively. Get the water right. Shower in water temperature that is comfortable to you. Water that is too cold may make you finish off immediately while hot water may scald your skin without you even knowing it. Use your wrist to test the water as it is a more accurate gauge of temperature than your fingers. Stand under the shower and turn around to wet your body completely, from head to toe. Start with your head. While under the shower, stroke your hair with your fingers to rinse off loose dirt and dust...

"If we manage to sustain our investment and ... double the numbers of people put on treatment, we can really break the backbone of this epidemic." Some 15.8 million people are now on HIV treatment and a five-year strategy to end the threat of a never-ending AIDS pandemic is starting to show results, the United Nations AIDS programme said on Tuesday. Estimates show new HIV infections have fallen by 35 percent since the peak of the three-decade-old pandemic in 2000, and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 42 percent since a peak in 2004, UNAIDS said in a report timed for release before World Aids Day on Dec. 1. Even before the agency set out its strategy last year , the roughly 16 million people being treated by June 2015 was double the number in 2010. Barely 2.2 million were being treated ten years ago. " Today we can say we move from despair to hope. Every five years we have more than doubled the number of peopl...

Common treatment options for premature ejaculation include behavioral techniques, topical anesthetics, oral medications and counseling. Keep in mind that it may take a little time to find the treatment or combination of treatments that will work for you. Behavioral techniques In some cases, therapy for premature ejaculation may involve taking simple steps, such as masturbating an hour or two before intercourse so that you're able to delay ejaculation during sex. Your doctor also may recommend avoiding intercourse for a period of time and focusing on other types of sexual play so that pressure is removed from your sexual encounters. The pause-squeeze technique Your doctor may instruct you and your partner in the use of a method called the pause-squeeze technique. This method works as follows: Begin sexual activity as usual, including stimulation of the penis, until you feel almost ready to ejaculate. Have your partner squeeze the end of your penis, at the point...

Sick of crash diets and fad diets? Follow these healthy tips. Working on weight loss? Then you probably want results -- fast. Let me save you some time: skip the fad diets. Their results don't last. And you have healthier options you can start on -- today! You can safely lose 3 or more pounds a week at home with a healthy diet and lots of exercise, says weight loss counselor Katherine Tallmadge, RD. How to Lose Weight Fast If you burn 500 more calories than you eat every day for a week, you should lose about 1-2 pounds. If you want to lose weight faster, you'll need to eat less and exercise more. For instance, if you take in 1,050 to 1,200 calories a day, and exercise for one hour per day, you could lose 3-5 pounds in the first week, or more if you weigh more than 250 pounds. It's very im...

When skin is exposed to the sun, it causes an increase in the production of cells known as melanocytes that increase melanin in the skin, thus turning the skin darker. These dark skin patches are known as brown spots, age spots, dark spots, sun spots and liver spots. Brown spots generally appear on exposed skin areas like the face, back, neck, chest, shoulders and hands. Some of the main causes of brown spots are sun exposure, aging, and genetics . Factors like stress, pregnancy, vitamin deficiencies, and weak liver functioning may also contribute to this problem. The spots are usually harmless, but many consider them unattractive. To lighten brown spots, you can try a few easy and natural home treatments. Sponsored links Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of brown spots on your skin. 1. Lemon Juice Lemon juice has bleaching properties that can help get rid of brown spots. Plus, it helps maintain soft, clear and beautiful skin. Simply apply fresh ...

Eating well balanced meals is important at all times, but it is even more essential when you are pregnant. There are essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your developing baby needs. Most foods are safe; however, there are some foods that you should avoid during pregnancy. Food to Avoid During Pregnancy Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella. Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby, which could lead to infection or blood poisoning and may be life-threatening. If you are pregnant and you are considering eating deli meats, make certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming . Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mer...