The Senate as of Wednesday, summoned for the implementation of the one per cent clause in the 2014 National Health Act, aimed at ensuring that one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund is devoted to restoring and revitalizing the nation’s health sector.
The demand came during the Motion sponsored by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central), on the alarming upsurge of Malaria in the country, with the Senate observing that 97% of Nigeria is at risk of malaria while the disease accounts for 60 percent of out-patient visits and 30 percent of hospitalizations of children under 5-years old around the country.
In his comments, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, stated that the Motion raised by Senator Kwankwaso, was genuine and germane, and that the malaria issue could be addressed with the implementation of the 2014 National Health Act.
“The issue of malaria and primary healthcare across the nation goes back to the issue of funding. We have a law that has been in place since 2014 which was passed by this chamber and up till now has not been implemented,” the Senate President said, “We must also work to ensure that the Appropriations Committee works to ensure that we meet the requirements of the National Health Act in the 2018 budget.”
The Senate also called for the enforcement of the African Union’s 2001 Abuja Declaration, that is aimed at ensuring increased funding for the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as ensuring the full implementation of the National Health Act.
Other prayers in the Motion urged the Federal Ministry of Health to effectively partner with states, local government authorities and development partners to scale up and streamline the coordination of the integrated vector management and control programmes across Nigeria.
Culled from Leadership
According to scientists no matter what, either you like it or not, smelling your partner’s farts will amazingly increase your life span, research team at the University of Exeter have discovered that it is good for you to inhale your partner’s stinky farts as the gases in them can combat diseases.
The study, published in the journal Medicinal Chemistry Communications, analysed the impact of the gas hydrogen sulfide which humans produce in small amounts.
Although it was found to be noxious in large doses, researchers discovered that cellular exposure to small amounts of the gas can prevent mitochondrial damage which has many health implications.
One of the researchers, Dr. Mark Wood, said:
Although hydrogen sulfide is well known as a pungent, foul-smelling gas in rotten eggs and flatulence, it is naturally produced in the body and could in fact be a healthcare hero. Surprisingly the gas in farts can actually reduce the risk of several life threatening illnesses including cancer, stroke and heart attacks.
According to researchers, it has also been proven to prevent arthritis and dementia in old age.
Creating a new compound know as AP39, the team at the University believe this can hold the key to future therapies as it ensures that the body retains and produces the right amount of hydrogen sulfide.
Researchers claim that this compound can be delivered to targeted cells in the body and placed inside.
Professor Matt Whiteman, from the university’s medical school, added: When cells become stressed by disease, they draw in enzymes to generate minute quantities of hydrogen sulfide.
This keeps the mitochondria ticking over and allows cells to live. If this doesn’t happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival and control inflammation.
We have exploited this natural process by making a compound, called AP39, which slowly delivers very small amounts of this gas specifically to the mitochondria.
Our results indicate that if stressed cells are treated with AP39, mitochondria are protected and cells stay alive.
Accordingto the scientists the research has shown that if AP39 is administered, in models of cardiovascular disease 80 percent of the heart’s mitochondria cells survive under highly destructive conditions.
Early results also that show that AP39 can help to lower high blood pressure and also dramatically improve the chances of survival after a heart attack by slowing the heartbeat making it more efficient.
The team are now working towards testing the compound in humans.
This research is interesting but of course in its early stages with no real conclusions being made.
However next time your partner has a go at your for farting, just tell them you are doing it out of the kindness of your heart.
