Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria

In late December 2019, there was an outbreak of a new Coronavirus infection in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which caused acute respiratory syndrome of unknown aetiology. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) or COVID-19 and declared the infection a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020. The first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was reported on the 27th of February 2020 and since then the numbers of confirmed cases has been on the increase, at least in Nigeria. With no vaccine or cure in sight, only public health measures that include personal protective measures, physical distancing, environmental and travel-related measures have been recommended to mitigate and contain the spread of the disease. There is need to make testing for COVID-19 widely available so that the true burden of the infection will be described. This step should assist policy makers in making evidence-based decisions in the prevention and control of the disease

Phytochemical Composition and in vitro Antioxidant Activity of Golden Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Seeds for Functional Food Application

Aim:Golden melon (Cucumis melo)is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbit). This study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical composition and in vitroantioxidant activity of golden melon seed extract.Place and Duration of Study:The study was carried out between a period of July and August 2017 at Baking Milling Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi Nigeria. Methodology:The crude methanolic extracts of the seed were tested for phytochemical and antioxidant activities according to standard analytical procedure. The antioxidant potential of the seed extracts was examined using different assays by determining total phenolic content,total flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity. The free radicalscavenging activities of the extract such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, in vitrolipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay weredetermined spectrophotometrically. Results:The phytochemical screening of the seed extracts revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenolic, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. The total phenolic content of extract was found to be 29.39mg/100g while the amount of total flavonoid content was 20.67mg/100g. Scavenging ability was observed to increase in proportion to concentration for all the scavenging assays and at the highest concentrationof100μg/ml.Total antioxidant capacity assay showed 19.44mg per 100 g. This high scavenging ability in the seed extracts may be attributed to the presence of phenolic and flavonoids compounds in the extract. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 100μg/ml Cucumis meloextract was 75.20% ± 0.72 while the reference standard (Ascorbic acid) was 83.24% ±0.31. Lipid peroxidation inhibition ability of 100μg/ml Cucumis meloextract was 87.18% ± 0.16 while the standard (ascorbic acid) was 94.96%± 0.16 at the same concentration. Results obtained from this study showed that the nitric oxide scavenging ability of the extract was 80.50%±0.63 while the standard antioxidant was 85.94% ± 0.54. Conclusion:In all the assays, Cucumis meloextract showed maximum percentage of antioxidant potentials at 100μg/ml. Additionally, golden melon seed possess appreciable amount of phenols and high antioxidant properties which could be explored and incorporated in functional food applications particularly in baked products

Achieving the 6th MDG: An Evaluation Drug Treatment of Malaria in Selected PHC in Osun State.

Introduction: The burden of malaria in Nigeria and Africa is well documented. The current Nigeria anti-malaria drug policy has recommended artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as the first-line drug treatment for uncomplicated malaria since 2005. It is now 8 years since the adoption of ACT and two years to the set time for the achievement of the MDGs. Objective: To assess the adherence of the PHC to the new policy on drug treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Methods: Using a pro-forma, relevant information about drug prescription of malaria cases between January 2008 and December 2009 was extracted from patients’ folders in the 3 comprehensive health centres being used by LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. Additional data were also collected through the use of in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed with Epi-Info software 3.4.2. Results: A total of 8881 episodes of malaria were analyzed of which male children (0-5years) constituted the highest number. The commonest prescribed anti-malaria was oral Chloroquine (21.6%) for the 3 CHC combined. However, for each CHC, CQ was the commonest drug prescribed for Ilie and Atelewo CHC (41.6% and 25.5% respectively), while for Akogun CHC alone, it was Artesunate + SP. Akogun CHC was found to have the highest prescribed pre-packaged ACT. Factors responsible for inappropriate prescription were non-availability and perceived patients' nonaffordability and unwillingness to buy drugs. Conclusion: Prescription of CQ and SP as mono-therapy continues to prevail in the CHC. There is urgent need for ensuring compliance to the current and acceptable treatment for malaria. Other means of sustaining availability of anti-malaria drugs should be considered.

Private pharmacists and tuberculosis control: a survey of case detection skills in Osogbo, South Western, Nigeria.

Background: National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP) adopted Stop TB strategy in 2006 as a result of high TB burden which outlined engagement of all care providers including Private Pharmacists (PP) in TB control. However, there were no previous baseline studies done on knowledge and practices on TB control among private pharmacists needed to appraise their potential role and contribution to TB control which forms the basis of this study. Aims & Objective: To provide relevant information about tuberculosis case detection skills among private pharmacists in Osogbo, South Western Nigeria for the purpose of policy initiation, planning and decision making. Material and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study using pre-tested structured questionnaire was conducted in November, 2007 among 47 Private Pharmacists (PP) randomly selected in Osogbo, South West, Nigeria. Verbal consent was taken before given the questionnaire. Sampling technique was a convenient sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS v 16. Results: Almost all Private pharmacists interviewed (80.9%) were seeing TB suspects and had a good knowledge on TB etiology (100%) and air borne route of transmission (70%). Majority (90%) did not know TB treatment duration and standardized drug regimen for adult (93%) and children (97.9%). Less than half (40.4%) regarded sputum microscopy as the best test to confirm diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, majority (99%) had no previous training on standard guidelines on TB control by the National Program. Conclusion: Private pharmacists were seen TB suspects with inadequate knowledge on Nigerian Guidelines on TB control. National tuberculosis and Leprosy control program (NTBLCP) must take appropriate measure to educate and train Private Pharmacists in TB management.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of HIV control measures in rural communities in Osun state. South Western Nigeria.

Background: HIV epidemic is moving from urban to rural population. Assessment of the awareness of HIV/AIDS control measures in rural areas is important to determine the impact of previous and current awareness programs as well as the need for interventions. Aims & Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of rural dwellers in Osun State regarding HIV/AIDS and to explore the epidemiological determinants of awareness among them. Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study. Multistage random sampling procedure was used to select the sample. The instrument of the study was a semi-structured questionnaires administered by interview to 399 respondents (sexually active men and women in the age range 15-55 years). SPSS was used for analysis and the results tabulated. Relevant statistical methods were also used to access associations where necessary and P-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Out of a total of 399 subjects who participated in survey, 57.9% and 36.8% are aware of VCT and ART as HIV/AIDS control measures. More than one quarter of the respondents i.e. 35.1% subjects believed HIV/AIDS is curable while only 15.5% had gone for VCT. Demographic characteristic such as educational status was found to have significant association with knowledge and attitudes towards control measures of HIV infection. Conclusion: Basic knowledge and good attitude on HIV/AIDS is still lacking among rural dwellers in Osun State. Literacy and media exposure are factors that determine awareness of HIV among them and can be helpful to raise their knowledge regarding this scourge.

Community participation in malaria control in olorunda local government area, osun state, southwestern Nigeria

Malaria is a major health burden in developing countries and needs multiple strategies for its control. Community participation as one of the strategies for malaria control promotes self-awareness and confidence; causes the people to examine the problems and to think positively about the solutions. The study was aimed at assessing the level of community participation in malaria control in Olorunda local government area of Osogbo; Osun state; Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Multi-staged sampling technique was used to choose 550 respondents. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Most of the respondents (65.0) fell between the age ranges 20-39 years; with a mean age of 32.85 + 12 years. Almost all (98.4) respondents had knowledge of malaria with most of them (88.0) correctly aware that mosquito bite could lead to malaria fever. Respondents stated that stagnant pool (92.6) and refuse dump (89.0) could predispose to malaria. About two-thirds (60.6) of the respondents participated in the control of the breeding sites of mosquitoes on specific days for environmental sanitation. The association between community participation in health talk and community participation in malaria control was statistically significant (p

Preferred Choice of Health Facilities for Healthcare among Adult Residents in Ilorin Metropolis; Kwara State; Nigeria

Purpose: The choice of health facilities for healthcare by an individual is largely determined by several factors. This study aims to determine predictors of preferred choice of health facility for care. Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study; pre-tested semi-structure questionnaire was administered to 366 adults selected through a multi-stage sampling technique in Ilorin metropolis. Data collected were analysed using Epi Info software version 3.4.1 and level of significance set at p 0.05. Results: The preferred health facility for medical care was private hospitals (35.2) followed by pharmaceutical store (27.9) and 17.0for general/teaching hospitals and only 12.3for primary health care (PHC). Quick service and availability of drugs were the major reasons for their preference which were said to be better in private hospitals. Sex; marital status; educational status; occupation and city area where the respondents dwell are all associated with the preferred choice of health facility for care. Conclusion: This study has shown that the private sector is preferred to the public ones with regards to receiving healthcare and that within the public sector; the higher levels of health facilities are preferred to the primary health care centres. Improving the image and performance of the public health facilities especially the PHC is very important for appropriate utilization of health services