₦airaland Forum

Self Medication: Weakening Barriers to Antimicrobial Resistance

Self-medication is defined as the use of medication by a patient on his own initiative or on the advice of a pharmacist or a layperson, instead of consulting a medical practitioner.

Described by the World Health Organisation as the broader term for resistance in different types of microorganisms and encompasses resistance to antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and antifungal drugs; antimicrobial resistance is a rising issue of global importance. It is a global peril.

The emphasis for this year’s Antibiotic Awareness Week, a campaign by the World Health Organization, is learning to handle antibiotics with care. The message is clear- preventive measures such as regular hand washing, preparing food hygienically and keeping vaccinations up to date are safer options than the injudicious use of antibiotics.

Ask yourself this-what is the cost of this unprescribed pill? A world where simple and major medical procedures would become risky because of the undue and unjust use of antibiotics.

Don't be a culprit, learn how to stay safe here- http://blog.ebolaalert.org/self-medication-weakening-barriers-to-antimicrobial-resistance/

#AntibioticAwarenessWeek

Join us in the discussion- www.twitter.com/EpidAlert or visit www.epidalert.org

More report about the nationwide measles campaign

Is monkeypox still a talked about disease?

The 2017/2018 National Measles Campaign, which aims to vaccinate over 33 million Nigerian children against Measles disease has began. 33 million children means 95 percent coverage compared with 84.5 percent coverage attained in the 2015 campaign.

But... despite this interesting information, people are concerned that this might be politicized, check out the timeline

Timeline

-The North-west campaign will run from November 9 to 21
-The North-east will run from November 30 to December 12
-The North-central will run from February 1-20, 2018
-The Southern part of the country from March 8 to 20, 2018

Before you accept that claim, this is the reason;

A UNICEF survey earlier revealed that measles among children under the age of five increased more than two-fold in Northern Nigeria between 2014 and 2016.

The immunization penetration is based on statistics and data and so places that require this immunization are focussed on. The funny thing is if you don't address the core areas, you put the whole nation in jeopardy.

What is required of us as parents and guardians is to ensure that our children are vaccinated. Know when the next stop is in your area via AlertClinic (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic)

Vaccination still remains the cheapest form of immunization against childhood killer diseases. DO NOT DENY ANY CHILD THAT!

Read our Other Articles
https://www.nairaland.com/4136468/truth-acute-flaccid-paralysis-polio
https://www.nairaland.com/4133753/situation-report-monkeypox-outbreak-nigeria

Read on our Blog- http://blog.ebolaalert.org/the-20172018-nationwide-measles-campaign-flags-off/

Nudge us on Social Media and let's continue this conversation @EpidAlert

Thank you for reading.

These are suicidal tips.

Key facts on Polio- www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic

get key facts on Monkeypox and report cases seamlessly straight to Health Authority. www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic

Key facts on Polio- www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic

Key facts on Polio- www. play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic

get key facts on Monkeypox and report cases seamlessly straight to Health Authority. www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic

What is the story of Polio?

The story of Polio cannot be told without the story of Smallpox. Smallpox, also a viral illness, historically spread through populations, leaving scarring, organ damage and death in its wake. It had a name in many languages. In South-Western Nigeria, the disease was deified as Sopona, and victims were often stigmatized.

-Poliomyelitis is an acute communicable disease caused by any 1 of 3 poliovirus serotypes (types 1, 2 or 3).
-Polioviruses are spread by faecal-to oral and oral-to-oral transmission. Where sanitation is poor, as in many regions in developing countries
-Globally, the sustained use of polio vaccines since 1988 has led to an unprecedented drop in the global incidence of poliomyelitis by over 99% and the number of countries with endemic polio from 125 to just 3-Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.
-Common to these three nations is the incidence of these cases in areas inaccessible to surveillance and vaccination campaigns due to civil unrest.

What to know about Polio?

-Polio is endemic in three countries – Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
-Polio mainly affects children under 5 years.
-One case of polio put other children at risk.
-There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented.
-Polio vaccines can protect a child for life.

Learn more in the banner below

What do vaccines and surveillance have in common?

On the 31st of August, 2017, a multidisciplinary group began a journey to change the story of infectious diseases in Nigeria. Much like many of history’s innovators in the field of medicine, all they had was a tool, a method, and a story.

Their story is of the incredible leverage of technology as a tool to achieve seamless communication to strengthen surveillance across divides and across locations in Nigeria.

In the same spirit of innovation, AlertClinic supports communities with key facts on infectious diseases of concern to the global health community-Polio is one of those on the priority of Lagos State.

AlertClinic recruits Community Informants to participate in disease control. Actually, we are all community informant.

Learn more on how to Detect, Report, Disrupt Polio Transmission [www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic]

The 2017 Theme for World Polio Day aims to #endpolio, by reaching every last child. We hope to raise our voices to join the conversation and empower communities, wherever they are, to make a difference. Let us foster a generation of children who will not remember the Polio vaccine.

Source- http://blog.ebolaalert.org/tech-as-a-tool-to-endpolio/

What and what to know about Monkeypox- www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epidalert.alertclinic

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) that occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. It is transmitted to people from various wild animals but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission. Direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals are risk factors.


The Situation Report

A total of 74 suspected cases have been reported from 11 States (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers and the FCT)

Of this, 21 samples have been tested (17 samples from Bayelsa and 4 samples from Lagos) and only 3 samples were tested positive.

3 of the 17 samples from Bayelsa have been confirmed positive for the virus, while all the 4 samples from Lagos tested negative to the virus.

Laboratory Testing

Only samples from Bayelsa and Lagos States have been tested so far. Suspected cases from other locations are yet to be confirmed.
Laboratory testings are taking place in two locations;
-The Africa Centre for Genomics and Infectious Diseases in Redeemers University Ede, Ogun State.
-The WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal.

It’s important to verify the laboratory tests so the need for testing in two different standard laboratories.

Current Situation

We are yet to get government response on the confirmed testing for other locations.

Kindly check the infographic below for the Situation Report.

Quick Update on How to Protect yourself from MonkeyPox (Check Banners)


We are here to keep you updated on happenings in global health. We report happenings, and give up to date information on disease outbreaks and how to stay safe.
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Source- http://blog.ebolaalert.org/alert-suspected-monkeypox-outbreak-in-nigeria/