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Ekweremadu: New Questions On Organ Donation Saga

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Ekweremadu Organ Donor's brother

The nation was shocked when on Thursday news broke that police in the United Kingdom arrested Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, for conspiring to bring a child to the UK for organ harvesting or donation.

The story also commanded great attention within the UK and beyond.

London Metropolitan Police charged the Ekweremadus with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting, a charge that adds another dimension to the stigma of trafficking which has trailed Nigerians for years.

Probing deeper into the emerging story, a source familiar with the matter, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said Ekweremadu’s child has been suffering from a kidney disease and needed a transplant.

The source said a donor was gotten and sent to the UK for investigation with the aim of providing a kidney. However, the source said the kidney did not match that of Ekweremadu’s child.

Subsequently the donor was scheduled to return to Nigeria but the individual refused to return and instead reported to the UK police to seek asylum, a situation which then warranted the arrest of the lawmaker and his wife.

Arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Uxbridge, the Ekweremadu’s pleaded not guilty to the charges which Magistrate Lois Sheard termed ‘serious allegations’ before adjourning the case until July 7.

The couple was remanded in custody ahead of their hearing next month, while the ‘child’ at the centre of the storm has been safeguarded even as police continue working closely with partner agencies to get to the root of this matter.

While investigations are ongoing, here are six burning questions on the minds and lips of many all over Nigeria and across the world on organ donation following the case around Ekweremadu.

1. Who is the donor and who are his/her parents?

Perhaps the most important key to this drama is the said child who is supposed to be the organ donor, and many have wondered who really he or she is.

While the police would do everything to protect the child (a minor) especially as inquiries are intensified, one begins to wonder who and where are the parents, guardians or relatives of the individual, would they surface soon and speak up in the matter or would the fear of a backlash keep them in the shadows.

2. Is organ donation/transplant a crime in the UK?

The straight answer to this is No! However, the process of organ donation and transplanting have legislations that guide them and these legislations slightly vary in England, Scotland, Wales and the Northern Ireland and Ekweremadu did not hide his intentions.

Most of the inherent issues regarding organ transplant and donations have been handled by the National Health Service (NHS).

And while the issues surrounding organ and tissue donation are varied and complex, there are a few terms that one must understand and they give clarity to how the process works.

It is imperative to note that at the centre of all the debates regarding donation and transplant is the central theme of “Consent”.

The first terms one needs grasp in this argument is the “opt-in” and “opt-out” options which refer to the different legal systems which govern how people consent to donating their organs and tissue after death.

Within the “Opt-In system people can choose to make organ and tissue donations after they have died, a person could do this by signing up to

the organ donor register or by telling a family member what they would want to happen after their demise.

However, in the case whereby a person has not made their decision on donation clear during their lifetime, a close family member would

normally be approached by a specially trained professional to make a choice about donation.

In the “Opt-Out” system which sometimes is called a system of “presumed consent” or “deemed consent”, people are presumed to have given their consent to organ and tissue donation after death, unless they have actively recorded their decision to opt-out on a formal register.

In practicality, all adults in England are now considered to be organ donors when they die, unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

The excluded groups include (People under 18, people who have lived in England for less than 12 months or who are not living there voluntarily, and people who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action).

3. Did the Ekweremadus obtain consent and from who?

Bearing the above in mind, the next question becomes, did the Ekweremadu’s obtain consent from the donor? Was the donor eligible to donate or does the individual belong to the excluded group?

Whose consent did the Ekweremadu’s get before proceeding with the plan for an organ transplant with an individual who does not reside originally in the United Kingdom.

Perhaps these are questions that can only be answered if relatives of the individual involved come out to speak on the matter.

4. How was the consent obtained and what authorities were informed?

If consent was indeed obtained as claimed in some quarters, then how were they gotten and what is the proof that indeed the individual voluntarily gave themselves up to donate their organs.

It must also be noted here, that one of the principles guiding this process is that there must not be any form of monetization, in essence, a person is not to be induced by financial gains before they agree to donate an organ.

Paid organ donation is a crime and as such a person who alive is more likely to be allowed to donate an organ if they are related to the sick individual directly, tied by blood, or if they can prove beyond reasonable doubt that the reason they are donating is not financially motivated.

It also does not end at obtaining the consent of the individual, one would need to alert the appropriate authorities regarding such a procedure and when it involves countries, then it becomes very imperative that the appropriate agencies in both governments are kept abreast regarding the donation and transplant as to ensure that no laws are infringed.

5. If the donor was underaged how did he/she obtain a falsified international passport?

In a nation like Nigeria, one would think the answer was quite simple, especially because of the calibre of the individual involved.

But, this question really raises a lot of doubt and calls for an investigation that could see heads roll even within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

If established that the donor in the Ekweremadu’s case is indeed a minor, and his/her passport was falsified, then it really calls to question all that the NIS boasts of and the trust vested in the service, especially in this time when there are links between international passports and the National Identification Number (NIN).

6. What legislation does Nigeria have regarding organ donation?

While one is tempted to out-rightly say that Nigeria has no legislation regarding organ donation and transplant, it is safer to say that the nation has a National Health Act, 2014 which contains many loopholes and does not cover the full scope of the practice in our world today.

The nation currently lacks a national registry for organ donation or transplantation, and that is also another issue that needs to be fixed.

Below are excerpts from the Health Act of 2014. Looking at them, one wonders if having studied the clause, Senator Ekweremadu believed he was well within his right to move on with the process, not giving it a second thought and weighing the laws of Nigeria against what is obtainable within the United Kingdom as regards organ donation.

There are more people waiting for organ and tissue transplants across the world than there are donations and while many may try to facilitate the process, still there are rules that must be obeyed.

The donation of organs and tissue after death helps to save thousands of lives every year, but these donations must be done through proper channels.

7. Senator Ekweremadu wrote the British High Commission and gave a prior notice of his intentions towards bringing in someone for organ donation. Did the commission relate to him the issues involved?

Ekweremadu’s situation is a very dicey one and before the case is resolved, then most of the issues raised above have to be properly understood and the questions have to be answered even as we wait for the verdict on this international matter that again calls us to question some of our practices and laws in a bid to ensure they are up to the best of standards.  (Channels TV)

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Health

Man Says He Will Not Send Children Away If DNA Test Shows They Are Not His 

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Akom on DNA tests

Amidst recent shocking discoveries from paternity DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA) tests in Nigeria, a Nigerian father, Takema Akom Smith, has said he won’t give up his children if DNA test shows they are not his biological kids.

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Akom, who hails from Benue State took to his Facebook handle to express his position on the searing DNA test issue.

The post read, “I can not drive any of my children to go because DNA shows he or she is not my biological child, the bond between father and child has been established and I can’t let it lose.”

See Akom’s post below 👇

Sadly, recent studies have revealed that one in every four tested men turned out not to be the biological father of their child(ren) and ranks Nigeria as the second highest in paternity fraud.

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Woman Suffers Kidney Shut Down After Using Hair Straightener Cream

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Kidneys of woman shut down after using chemical hair cream straightener

A woman has suffered organ failure after using a hair straightener cream which caused her kidneys to shut down.

The woman, who was not named, felt nauseous and suffered from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and back pain just after regularly using products with glyoxylic acid, according to Mail Online. 

The report gathered that she had no health problems before the treatments, but said she would also feel a burning sensation on her scalp whenever the chemicals were applied.

Doctors warned that glyoxylic acid and its derivatives like glycolic acid popular in ‘Brazilian’ and ‘formaldehyde-free’ hair straightening treatments, could seep through the skin into the blood and travel to the internal organs.

Once there, they could form crystals the doctors suggested which may stop the kidney from functioning correctly.  

In the case, revealed in the New England Journal of Medicine, the woman went for treatments three times at the same salon in June 2020, April 2021, and July 2022.

On the same day after each treatment, she was diagnosed with acute kidney injury, which is a sudden loss of function in the kidneys when they stop filtering water and waste products from the blood.

It was not clear how she was treated, but this may have included intravenous fluids and dialysis or being hooked up to a machine to filter the blood.

The woman, from Tunisia, had used a cream that contained ten percent glyoxylic acid. 

Doctors suggested glyoxylic acid damaged the kidneys because within the organs it was broken down into ‘elongated’ crystals which formed stones and stopped the organs from functioning properly.

Glyoxylic acid works by temporarily altering the structure of hair, allowing hairdressers to change frizzy hair to straight.

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SFH Partners Law Enforcement Agencies On Human Rights

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SFH

The Society for Family Health(SFH) has expressed its appreciation to law enforcement agencies in the country for its commitment in their partnership with the organization. 

The Managing Director of the Society for Family Health, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho expressed this in his goodwill message at a 3-day training workshop organized by SFH for the law enforcement officers held at Chatwell Hotel on Monday in Bauchi. 

The sensitization workshop focused on general health issues, gender diversity and human rights as they relates to the survival of the key populations.

The MD who was represented by Chief of Party, KP-CARE2 Project of the SFH, Mallam Abdulsamad Salihu said law enforcement agencies have shown serious commitment to  its partnership with his organization. 

He disclosed that the officers have been part and parcel of the organization’s activities over the years especially as it relates to public health programming,  HIV and AIDS service implementation and extraordinary general security provisions.

He said, “It is with no doubt that our gallant and prestigious law enforcement personnel are through considerable tests of their resolve by the significant increase in criminal activities on the country, especially because of the challenges with poverty, inflation, banditry and insurgency

The SFH CEO concluded that, “we also know that over 200 million Nigerians rely on the law enforcement agencies for their security and livelihoods, many of which are also supported by SFH.”

In his address, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police,  CP Auwal Mohammed Musa disclosed that gender inequalities are not new concepts but that their pervasiveness has brought them to international focus. 

He pointed out that the police force as an institution is a major stakeholder in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women, guided by its mandate to maintain peace and uphold fundamental rights to freedom. 

The police boss further explained that every individual deserves safety and respect, but that the scourge of rape and defilement are curbed, and that women and girl child and boys can live their lives free from fear, intimidation and harassment. 

He expressed hope that the training program would facilitate a smooth police service delivery and improve the areas of gender sensitivity in the Force.

In his speech, the Zonal Commander of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Zone B, Idris Mohammed Bello thanked the Society for Family Health for its commitment on confronting the HIV menace over the years and the benefits therein.

The NDLEA boss expressed his belief that participants will leave the training better equipped to stem the problem due to the increased knowledge they will acquire from the training. 

Bello also informed that this was the second time he would be attending the Society for Family Health sensitization training for officers with his strong belief that the participants will live with the takeaway and even impact the knowledge on others.

Other agencies in attendance at the training include the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Hisbah Corps, representatives of the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), heads of State AIDS Control Agencies(SACAs) and representations  from KP-led Community-Based Organizations(CBOs) among others.

The training attracted officers from the North West and North East regions comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and host Bauchi states.

About 40,000 vulnerable individuals receive care from the project with support from the United States Agency for International (USAID) and the Nigerian government.

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Sleeping In Freshly Painted Room Can Cause Respiratory Disease, Cancer – Pulmonologists

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Pulmonologists and public health physicians have warned that sleeping or staying for just a few minutes in freshly painted rooms less than 48 hours after exposes people to some hazardous chemicals that can cause respiratory diseases and various types of cancer.

They hold that, volatile organic chemicals found in paints might irritate the lungs, leading to allergies, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

The experts, however, said not everyone will have such symptoms from being exposed to freshly painted fumes, and that not all paints include organic chemicals but there is a need to apply caution.

According to a health website, Healthline, most paints have some level of volatile organic chemicals also known as VOCs, which are released into the air as gases, solids or liquids.

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It noted that VOCs include; toluene, xylene, acetone, formaldehyde, and benzene.

A study published in an open journal found that higher levels of a specific type of VOC called propylene glycol and glycol ethers lead to a greater likelihood of conditions, such as asthma, eczema, and rhinitis.

A professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande explained that fresh paint has some toxic effects particularly if it is gloss paints, stressing that it can pose several hazards to humans.

He explained, “Those that are asthmatic may rapidly get attacks from perceiving the smell emanating from paints. Fresh paint can pose several hazards to humans due to the release of volatile organic compounds and other chemicals into the air. These chemicals can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as cause headaches and dizziness

“It’s important to ensure proper ventilation when painting indoors and to follow safety guidelines provided by paint manufacturers to minimize these risks.

“Newly painted houses have volatile organic compounds and chemicals in the form of gases in them. Such gases are hazardous to the health.”

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Man Recovering After Pig Kidney Transplant

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pig kidney transplant

A 62-year-old man is said to be recovering well and should leave hospital soon, after getting a new kidney from a pig that was genetically modified to reduce the risk of the organ being rejected after the transplant.

US surgeons say Rick Slayman is a “real hero” for trying the pioneering operation.

The ultimate hope is to use animal organs for more transplants.

Pig kidneys have been put into brain-dead people before as a test.

The four-hour surgery, performed on 16 March, “marks a major milestone in the quest to provide more readily available organs to patients”, Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement.

Mr Slayman had a human kidney transplant at the same hospital in 2018 after being on dialysis for seven years before that, because his own kidneys were not working properly.

Five years later, the transplant failed and he had to go back on dialysis in May 2023.

His prospects were not looking good, say his doctors – getting the dialysis to work was difficult since his blood vessels had been repeatedly used for it many times, hence the option of the pig kidney transplant became a viable option.

He encountered recurrent dialysis vascular access complications, requiring visits to the hospital every two weeks for de-clotting and surgical revisions, significantly affecting his quality of life, his doctors explained.

Mr Slayman said he weighed up the pros and cons and decided to go ahead with the pig kidney transplant: “I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive.”

There is a chronic shortage of human donor organs for people who need them. Animal donors might help solve that. Heart transplants from pigs to humans have been tried recently too. Pig organs are a good match for people when it comes to size.

The special pig kidney used for the transplant was provided by eGenesis of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The animal had been genetically edited to remove genes that could be harmful to a human recipient and to add certain human genes to improve compatibility.

Mr Slayman is still taking anti-rejection drugs though, and it is not clear for how long his new kidney will function. This is unchartered territory.

One of the pig kidney transplant team, Dr Tatsuo Kawai, said: “Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure.”

Source: BBC

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Top Robotic Surgeon Joins Services Of Kelina Hospital

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Kelina hospital

One of Nigeria’s leading facilities in nephrology and kidney management, Kelina Hospital has announced the arrival of world-class robotic and laparoscopic surgeon, Dr Njinou Ngninkeu Bertin in the services of the hospital.

A statement made available to GWG.ng on the phenomenal development that is expected to further strengthen its position in the management and treatment of kidney issues said:

“This is to inform the Medical Community and General Public in Nigeria that Dr Njinou Ngninkeu Bertin, a World Class Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon from Paris, France, has joined the services of Kelina Hospital Lagos, in March 2024, to provide routine Laparoscopic surgery, including Radical Prostatectomy (LRP) for prostate cancer.

“Dr Bertin has done over 2,000 robotic and laparoscopic prostate cancer surgeries worldwide.

“Kelina Hospital does Minimally Invasive Surgery routinely. We have done 360 Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) in the last 5 years. We also do laser lithotripsy and PCNL for kidney stones, laparoscopic surgery for gallstones, appendix, hernia, laparoscopic surgery for uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and other precision surgeries.

“You may wish to take advantage of this opportunity rather than travelling abroad for a procedure we do locally in just 2 hours. Our patients eat their food the same day and go home after just 2 days following Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.”

GWG.ng reports that medical consultations are available at Kelina Hospital, located at 7 Ologun Agbaje Street, off Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island.

Further details are available at the hospital’s website www.kelinahospital.com

09120338755, 09120338737

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I Am Getting Well, Princess Catherine Speaks After Cancer Revelation

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Princess Catherine cancer

The Princess of Wales, Princess Catherine says she is in the early stages of cancer treatment, an announcement that has further brought focus on the health issues of the Royal family.

In a video message, she says the news came as a “huge shock” and her family had experienced “an incredibly tough couple of months”

Catherine, 42, says it has taken time to “explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis … and to reassure them that I am going to be OK”

“Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance,” she says as she thanks well-wishers

She says her major abdominal surgery in January was successful. Tests later found cancer had been present

King Charles, who himself is being treated for cancer, says he is “so proud” of his “beloved” daughter-in-law’s courage

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says Kate has shown “tremendous bravery” and has the “love and support of the whole country”

GWG.ng reports that the news that Princess Catherine has cancer is expected to tamper many of her royal duties. Princess Catherine is the wife of Prince William, the Prince of Wales who is the next in the line of ascendancy to the English monarch.

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Surgeons Successfully Transplant A Pig Kidney Into A Man

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Pig kidney transplant man

A groundbreaking medical feat has occurred at Massachusetts General Hospital, showcasing a significant breakthrough in transplant medicine and xenotransplantation after the transplant of the kidney of a pig into a man.

Richard “Rick” Slayman, a 62-year-old individual, underwent a pioneering procedure where he received a genetically modified pig kidney. This revolutionary operation has the potential to transform the landscape of organ transplants in the future.

The successful transplantation of the pig’s kidney into a human marks a major milestone in addressing the critical shortage of human organs available for transplantation. With over 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, the majority requiring kidneys, this achievement offers hope to countless individuals in need.

Each year, thousands of lives are lost while waiting for a transplant, highlighting the pressing need for alternative solutions to mitigate the organ shortage crisis.

The utilization of genetically modified pig kidneys signifies significant progress in overcoming the historical challenge of immune rejection, a major hurdle in xenotransplantation endeavors. Previous attempts at animal-to-human organ transplants failed due to immune system rejection. However, this operation demonstrates the promise of genetically modified pigs whose organs are more compatible with the human body.

Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, the transplant surgeon, is optimistic about the pig kidney’s functionality, expecting it to last at least two years. While there’s a possibility of kidney failure, the success of this surgery paves the way for further advancements in xenotransplantation research and development.

The entire surgical procedure lasted four hours, and Rick Slayman is currently recuperating well. This achievement represents a significant step forward in the quest to address the critical shortage of transplantable organs and offers hope to countless individuals awaiting life-saving procedures.

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Delta State Govt Confirm Outbreak Of Lassa Fever

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The Delta State Government has confirmed about four cases of Lassa fever in the state.

The State’s Commissioner of Health, Joseph Onojaeme, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba on Friday, March 22, listed the affected local government areas as Okpe, Oshimili North, Oshimili South and Ndokwa East.

According to him, Emergency Operation Center, EOCs, have been set up across the state to monitor the situation and ensure residents are aware of what is going on.

Why Buhari Is The Worst President In Nigeria’s History – Reno Omokri

“In week 12, we have four confirmed cases so far recorded with a fatality rate of 50% though the general fatality rate for Lassa fever is 1 – 15% so we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that we curtail the transmission from patient to health workers and from patients to relatives,” the commissioner disclosed.

He said the government is doing a lot of advocacy to especially to health workers, and sensitisation of residents to have a high index of suspicion when they see those cases.

Why I Dropped Out Of School – Senator Tahir Monguno

Onojaeme added that the state government is working closely with Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State, and has been able to get test results in less than 24 hours, as against what was commonly obtainable which was within the range of 72 hours.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr Mildred Igumbor said one case of Lassa fever is an outbreak hence all hands should be on deck to ensure the elimination of the disease.

She explained that Lassa fever is spread through contact with the urine of rats on foods and urged residents to ensure rats don’t get in contact with their food so that they don’t contract the disease.

Igumbor stated that the Isolation Center in Federal Medical Center Asaba has the capacity for isolation and management of confirmed cases, and if there is a need for referrals, they would be transferred to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State.

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