2013 World Breast Feeding Week kicks off in Imo

This year’s World Breast feeding Week with the theme, “Breast feeding support: Close to Mothers”, started in Owerri, on Thursday (August 1, 2013). Briefing journalists in his office on the objectives of the week-long global event, the permanent  secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Johnny Ihebereme said it draw attention to the importance of peer support in helping mothers to establish and sustain breast feeding. It is also to inform people of the highly effective benefits of peer counseling, unite efforts and expand peer counseling programme. The 2013 World Breast Feeding Week will encourage breast feeding supports irrespective of their educational background. It will identify local community support contacts for breast feeding mothers, those women can…

House of horror: Silence grips home of Ngor Okpala poison victims

The house of the victims of the food poison in Egbelu, Nguru Umuowa community in Ngor Okpala was almost scary; the silence around the house was frightening as even fowls in the compound felt the impact of the cold hands of death.  Our reporter,  who visited the deserted house said that it took the courage of a journalist to come close to the house where the meal that wiped out the family of eight stood above. Few villagers who walked across the compound took a conscious glance at the home of the Nwosus as if to say, “Woe betides this house”.  Only the bush and the flowers in front gave a sign of life as…

Woman loses arms, legs while taking injection for Bigger Bottom

A Mother of two has narrated how her quest for a bigger bottom left her a quadruple amputee. Apryl Michelle Brown had black-market silicone injections which turned out to be BATHROOM SEALANT. It left her in agony and led to her losing her hands and feet, as well as her buttocks. The 46-year-old former hairdresser blames “vanity” and wants to warn others of the terrible dangers of such illegal treatments. Apryl said: “I’ve paid a terrible price for vanity and I’ll pay for the rest of my life. But I blame no one but myself. “I want to share my story to warn others about these so – called ‘quick f i x ‘ surgeries….

Man loses nose to plastic surgery, Files suit against Surgeon

A New York man living in Tulsa went to get a nose job with a well-established Tulsa plastic surgeon and five years later does not have a nose. Vishal Thakkar got a divorce and in 2006 he admittedly made a vain decision. “I decided to do something selfish,” said Thakkar, sitting in his attorney’s office in South Tulsa. Dr. Angelo Cuzalina is known across Green County for his plastic surgery. The Oklahoma Medical Board does not show any complaints in his history. He is listed as president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. “I had the first surgery and suffered some breathing problems, nothing too bad, but it made it hard to exercise and…

GLAUCOMA, A Leading Cause of Blindness

Glaucoma is the 2nd leading cause of blindness in the world after cataract.  World Glaucoma week is celebrated from 10th to 16th of March, every year and 12th of March is usually recognized as World Glaucoma day. From the free eye project we have carried out in various parts of Imo State; we discovered that the prevalence of glaucoma is very high in Imo State. Glaucoma has been called the silent “thief of sight” because the loss of vision often occurs gradually over a long period of time and symptoms only occur when the disease is quite advanced.  And once vision is lost, it cannot be recovered, so treatment is aimed at preventing further loss….

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…

Auto crash: Why Okorocha was not treated in Government hospital

Insecurity and protracted labour dispute between the State Government and staff of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), were reasons why Governor Rochas Okorocha was not taken to the hospital for treatments when he was involved in an auto crash recently. Okorocha’s vehicle had head-on collision with another vehicle belonging to one Osita Nnawuihe on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Umuoma, Orlu, while driving himself without the usual outriders and government house ambulance. Daily Sun learnt that the governor was rushed to St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa where he received first aid, while Nnawuihe was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri for treatment. The State Government and the teaching hospital…