Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), reaffirmed its position that online training for medical and dental students, at home and abroad, is not acceptable, insisting they would not honour such certificate.

MDCN said, the explanation became necessary following information it received that medical and dental students who were affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine are engaged in online medical classes.

“We wish to inform the public that Medical and Dental Degree Certificates issued by Medical Schools from Ukraine from 2022 will not be honoured by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria until when normal academic activities resume.

“Council, however, advised students who are currently studying medicine or dentistry in Ukrainian medical schools to seek transfer to other accredited medical or dental schools in other countries for the completion of their programmes.

“In addition, Council’s attention has also been drawn to information that some students are carrying out online medical training being organised by schools in Ukraine, China and some other countries,” It said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Council categorically states that online medical training done in any part of the world is short of acceptable standard and is not recognised by the MDCN.

“In the light of the above, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will not honour any Medical Degree Certificates issued at the end of any online medical training.”

In his fight against Adulterated and fake drugs, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state, performed the groundbreaking ceremony of an International Drug Co-ordinated Wholesale Center, Oba, Idemili South Council Area.

The project which is expected to be completed within twenty-four months will be financed by Sterling Bank Plc.

Performing the function, Governor Soludo who said that the day coincides with the third month of his administration, said that when completed, the project will become the biggest drug distribution center in Africa.

The Governor warned that after twenty four months, the Ogbo Ogwu, Onitsha will be closed down and bulldozed while the Oba site will become the only approved location for wholesale drugs distribution in the state.

While noting that the project is in sync with his administration’s general plan of building a liveable and prosperous homeland, he added that all open drug markets in Anambra must relocate to Oba after twenty four months.

The governor expressed optimism that in the ecosystem, technology will drive the process and assured that the abandoned Oba International market will also come alive.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike who stressed the urgency of controlling the environment where drugs are sold, pointed out that Ndi Anambra need it because the existence of an open drug market leads to all kinds of distribution of fake and adulterated drugs.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, amongst others, attended the event.

Nigerians have been reminded the importance of Genotype check before marriage as the country joins to the World to commemorate 2022 Sickle Cell Day.

The Founder Maidunama Sickle Cell Foundation and the President Pan Africa Sickle Cell Federation, Rabi Maidunama advised couples to know their genotype and be sure they match each other before getting married.

He gave the advice in Abuja at an event to mark this year’s Sickle Cell Day.

One of the activities to mark this year’s world sickle cell day was a five kilometer walk organised by Maidunama Sickle cell foundation to sensitize the public on the deadly disease and how to prevent it.

Other highlights of the event was blood donations, testing, genotype checking and education on the type of match of genotype before marriage to avoid the increase of Sickle cell disease.

Maidunama said the walk was to raise awareness of Sickle Cell and to remind the general public about the scourge as it is not something to be ignored.

She said; “We want people to be aware of it, that is a medical condition and its preventable, our flyers carries genotype compatibility, either you are AS or AS, carriers of sickle cell should not get married, that is what we have been sensitizing people. We also have a stand here for genotype test for those who don’t know their genotype and at the same time, we are celebrating warriors, that’s why there’s a lot of dancing and merriment,” She explained.

A medical practitioner, Dr Jeremiah David who was at the event talked about his experiences in managing sickle cell and gives his advice.

“If they can actually ensure that they are properly hydrated, they take a lot of fluid, you see children as we advise a lot of them to have bottle water each time so that they can have enough water, we also advised them to take drugs that will ease the pains,” he said.

One of the sickle cell warriors, a 34 year old King Aba, said the only way to prevent the menace is to appropriate a bill that would stop genotype incompatibility during marriage and more sensitization in rural areas.

World Sickle Cell Day is a day set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness of the disease at a national and international level.

On 22nd December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that recognised sickle cell disease as a public health problem and “one of the world’s foremost genetic diseases.”

The resolution calls for members to raise awareness of sickle cell on June 19th of each year at national and international level.

Patients with sickle cell disease have sickle-shaped red blood cells, which can clump together and prevent blood and oxygen from reaching all regions of the body. It is a blood condition that is passed down from generation to generation.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with the disease may experience pain, anemia, infection, and other serious health complications that may necessitate medical attention.

The Teen Ambassador Foundation, a non governmental Organisation in Nigeria has provided medical care to indigent citizens in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The outreach held in Kadi village, drew a huge crowd from the community.

The Director General of the TEEN Ambassador Foundation, Mr. Paul Adigun, said; “Our main objective is to empower teenagers. We want to catch them young and teach them how to co-exist with one another. We want to have this outreach across the federation. We have had it in Nasarawa State and it was a huge success. Kado to central area of FCT is a few minutes drive and the fact that they lack amenities is why we are here. So, we felt we should come and compliment government’s effort.”

Adigun said that every community has a need and it is good to compliment the government’s effort in providing care to the people.

He said that after the outreach, diseases that cannot be handled by the foundation are referred to bigger hospitals and the foundation would pay up the bills.

The Chief of Kado, Etsu Danlami Audu, said commended the TEEN Foundation for singling out the community and assisting them through the outreach.

On his part, the Commissioner representing the FCT in the Public Complain Commission, Mr Dalhatu Musa, said that the commission in partnership with the TEEN Foundation would ensure other communities benefit from the assistance.