Lexy Blog

No doubt, Nigeria is the economic powerhouse of West Africa. Although it is one of the wealthiest countries on the African continent, its health indices is a cause of major concern to stakeholders in the health sector in view of the fact that most childhood deaths are preventable. With the World Health Organisation (WHO)latest reports which reveal that pneumonia is the single largest cause of death in children globally with an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of five years dying from this ailment and another 155 million cases of childhood pneumonia reported annually, this ailment has continued to inflict unforgettable scars of ill health, premature death and a bleak survival expectation for millions of infants in Nigeria, which, currently, has the highest burden of infant and child deaths from pneumococcal disorders in Africa and is second only to India in the world. Giving these worrisome indices which is believed might truncate the country’s quest to att

Taking a cursory look at the nation’s healthcare sector, the significant contribution of Traditional Medicine (TM) as a major provider of healthcare delivery to orthodox medicines cannot be overlooked. This is due to the fact that TM products have over time been the mainstay for over 60 percent of Nigerians living in rural areas, following its accessibility and affordability. While in most parts of the African continent, TM and western medicine exist side by side with people using either or both of them for treatment. The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a comprehensive traditional medicine strategy in 2002, emphasising on the documentation, development and promotion of TM, herbal remedies and medicinal plants through research and the development of stronger evidence based on safety, efficacy and quality of the TM products and practices. With some African countries putting in place mechanisms for registration of traditional medicines legislation, regulatory fram

Revamping investment opportunities in Free Trade Zones As Nigeria continues to remain a top investment destination for companies looking for placement in the continent’s fast-growing emerging markets, exploiting inherent potential in the various Free Trade Zones in the country will not only facilitate inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) but also will boost technology transfer, writes Alexander Chiejina In recent times, economic and investment opportunities in Nigeria have become a destination of choice for most of Africa ’s key markets. With Nigeria still a top investment destination for companies and venture capitals looking for placement in the continent’s fast-growing and emerging markets, the country also hosts a host of non-oil  industries, driven by expanding consumer markets and rising demand for new goods and services. While some of the world largest multinationals keep expanding existing oper

... set to address short supply of water in slums Worried over the recent outbreak of cholera in certain parts of the country and rising water table levels in the State, the Lagos State government is set to address inadequate water supply to many slum areas in Lagos including Orile-Iganmu and Agege with a view to preventing possible cholera outbreak. In lieu of this, Lagosians have been advised not only to ensure that all drinking water available to them are properly boiled but to ensure full personal hygiene and report possible case of cholera to a nearby government -owned health facility. Briefing journalists in Lagos, Jide Idris, Commissioner of Health, Lagos State admonished Lagosians to make personal hygiene practices their utmost priority in order to prevent cholera infection, a disease caused by a bacterium Vibrio cholerae . While noting that the presence of slums in Lagos is an obstacle to tackling cholera, the commissioner noted that recently, there has been inc

Sick patients awaiting medical care ...as bill awaits President Jonathan’s assent Health has often been said to be ‘wealth’. However, a country with a largely unhealthy population cannot progress economically, increase her Gross Domestic Product per capita nor experience economic development, which is measured primarily by economic growth. As Vision 20:2020 aims at putting Nigeria on the world economic map, stakeholders in the nation’s health sector are skeptical that this vision may not materialized since the nation is off track in the achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); improving child, and maternal health as well as ensuring environmental sustainability. While there are fears that Africa may not achieve the MDGs if Nigeria does not, coupled with cases of Nigerians (both young and old) dying of different preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, vaccine preventable disease of childhood, maternal and neonatal conditions, s