From Attah Ede, Makurdi

As the world marked 2024 AIDS Day, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, has lamented that stigma and discrimination Stigma has continue to keep individuals from seeking essential care, while many key populations face substantial barriers to accessing treatmentThe organization put the HIV global infection rate at 4,000 per week, maintaining that there is need for enhanced preventive measures, particularly among young women and adolescent girls who are mostly at risk.

AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Dr. Penninah Iutung, gave this indication in a statement signed by the Marketing and Advocacy Manager, Steve Aborishade, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.According to Dr Iutung said people must prioritize the use of condoms, saying that with the introduction of innovative prevention tools like the Dapivirine vaginal ring to Lenacapvir, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), the ability to halt new transmissions has never been greater.”The commemoration is to signify that, it’s Not Over” in the fight against HIV/AIDS, while raising the needed awareness, promote prevention, testing, and treatment, and rally support to all those affected by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and globally.”Despite decades of progress, around 40 million people globally are living with HIV, more than half of whom are women and girls, with approximately 1.3 million new infections reported each year, according to UNAIDS. Stigma and discrimination continue to keep individuals from seeking essential care, and many key populations face substantial barriers to accessing treatment. “This World AIDS Day event will spotlight these challenges, emphasizing the need to keep HIV/AIDS a priority on national and global public health agendas.AHF Africa Bureau Chief also noted that increased funding for HIV/AIDS, community-led initiatives, and favorable policies to fight stigma and discrimination remained crucial for expanding access to prevention and treatment, especially for at-risk groups and in the global effort to control AIDS.According to the statement, AHF Nigeria, Country Programme Director (CPD), Dr. Echey Ijezie, said ‘’In Nigeria, AHF is particularly reinforcing the need to embrace Comprehensive age-appropriate Sexuality Education (CSE), to empower adolescents and young people with skills and knowledge to negotiate safer sexual behaviors, with the population being the most at risk to STIs including HIV/AIDS.”The Organization, in the statement titled “It’s Not Over until AIDS is Defeated” said in recognition of World AIDS Day 2024 on December 1, AHF Nigeria will host a commemorative event at the Water Fountain, by Nwaniba Street roundabout, in the city center of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on December 2, 2024.The statement further explained that World AIDS Day serves as a vital platform for HIV/AIDS advocates to acknowledge the progress made, remember those we have lost to AIDS-related illnesses and those who carry on the fight, and call on governments worldwide to commit the necessary resources and political support to end HIV/AIDS. “On this World AIDS Day, we’re reminded: It’s Not Over”, it concluded.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned that Mpox cases are expected to rise over the next four weeks, with signs of flattening anticipated early next year.

Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Chief of Staff at Africa CDC, disclosed this during a weekly briefing on the outbreak.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox a global public health emergency in August for the second consecutive year

This is following the spread of a new variant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighbouring countries.

Mpox, a viral infection transmitted through close contact, has already caused over 59,000 reported cases and 1,164 deaths across 20 African countries in 2024.

Ngongo, however, said that intensified efforts were underway to address the outbreak.

“We are hoping that after about four weeks, we should see some plateauing of the outbreak as a result of all the current investments.

“Towards the end of quarter one, we can then see the bending of the curve,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that surveillance and contact tracing remained significant challenges.

To address these gaps, he said that the African CDC was deploying community health workers, epidemiologists, and infection prevention specialists to areas with confirmed cases.

He said that Africa CDC had called for stronger surveillance systems and international collaboration to address the outbreak effectively.

Report says that WHO has maintained Mpox’s global health emergency status, citing the rising number of cases, continued geographic spread, and operational challenges in mounting a cohesive regional response.

The global health body said that the outbreak continued to represent an emergency based on the need to sustain a unified response across countries and partners.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While the disease is often mild, it can be fatal, especially in vulnerable populations.

The current strain has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries, prompting international concern.(NAN)

Some lifestyle medicine practitioners have called for a shift of focus from disease management to preventive care and vibrant living in order to reduce the number of people suffering from chronic diseases.

The experts proffered the solutions during the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Annual International Scientific Conference of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg) on Friday in Lagos.

The conference, which will hold from Nov.

28 to Nov. 30, was with the theme, “Transforming Healthcare Systems in Africa: Sustainable Lifestyle Medicine Strategies”.

The President of SOLONg, Dr Moyosore Makinde, said that the theme was apt in addressing Africa’s healthcare landscape.

Makinde, a Consultant Family Physician, said that the continent’s health sector was overwhelmed by chronic diseases including hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and depressive disorders.

She said that unhealthy behaviours, which included poor nutrition, fiscal inactivity, sleep deprivation, substance abuse, unabated stress and toxic relationships, were causes of these conditions.

“The solution lies in lifestyle medicine.

“It is a transformative approach, which is poised to prevent, to treat, as well as reverse the chronic conditions that we see.

“Lifestyle medicine represents the future of healthcare, empowering individuals to reclaim their health and their well-being,” she said.

She urged institutions, particularly governments, institutional leaders, health maintenance organisations, among others, to integrate lifestyle medicine into school curriculum, and structured lifestyle intervention programmes.

“Teaching it even in primary schools, to universities and postgraduate colleges, ensuring a new generation of healthcare leaders are equipped to transform the landscape and improve health outcomes in Africa,” she said.

The President, World Lifestyle Medicine Organisation, Dr Ifeoma Monye, said that the surge in chronic lifestyle-related conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, was evident that traditional approaches to healthcare were no longer enough.

Monye, who is also a Consultant Family Physician, said that lifestyle medicine was not a new field, rather a revolution in the approach to health, well-being, prevention and management of chronic diseases.

She said that the application of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, with the acronym ‘DREAMS’, were key strategies to a healthier, happier and longer life.

“Simply put, the DREAMS application represents our diet, relationships, exercise, avoidance of harmful substances, mental health and stress management, not forgetting regular medical check-ups,” she said.

Also, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said that enough knowledge of lifestyle medicine, the prevention of chronic diseases would be easier and effective for health practitioners.

Fabamwo was represented by the Directorate of Clinical Services and Training, LASUTH, Dr Lydia Aborishade.

He urged medical professionals to focus more on educating their patients on useful information about diet, exercise, stress management, healthy interactions, among others. (NAN)