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Babies conceived by women above 35 years stand the risk of Down syndrome – Kaduna Therapist

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Women who conceive pregnancies after the age of 35 years stand the risk of being delivered of babies with Down syndrome, a speech therapist, Maryam Ibrahim-Maifada, has said.

Babies conceived by women above 35 years stand the risk of Down syndrome – Therapist. (UN news)

“The older the mother, the higher the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome,’’ Ibrahim-Maifada told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday.

“Down syndrome is a genetic disorder. Most babies are born with 23 pairs of chromosomes within each cell for a total of 46. Majority of babies with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome,’’ she said.

She noted that babies born with Down syndrome faced physical and mental challenges throughout life.

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They typically have distinctive body and facial features that set them apart. They are more likely to develop slowly, and are more at risk of some medical conditions, she said.

Ibrahim-Maifada listed some of the medical conditions as delays in speech and language development, attention problems, sleep difficulties, stubbornness and tantrums, delays in recognition, and delayed toilet training.

She also listed physical signs of Down syndrome to include short, stocky physical size; with a short neck, poor muscle tone, flattened facial features, especially the bridge of the nose, and small ears.

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Others are almond-shaped eyes that slant upward, small hands and feet, single deep crease across the center of the palm.

She listed other medical conditions associated with Down syndrome to include heart problems, thyroid abnormalities, auditory and vision problems and low fertility rate males.

“About 50 per cent of women with Down syndrome are able to bear children. The possibility of risk of their children having the condition is between 35 per cent and 50 per cent,’’ Ibrahim-Maifada.

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Olubadan Lekan Balogun of Ibadan Land dies at Age 81

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Olubadan Lekan Balogun of Ibadan Land dies at Age 81

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, is dead.

He was aged 81.

Oba Balogun spent two years on the throne of his forefathers, having been presented the Staff of Office by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on March 11, 2022.

Confirming his death in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Thursday, Makinde said Oba Balogun died Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The governor described the late monarch as a towering figure akin to an Iroko tree.

He wrote, “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Balogun has joined the ancestors.

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“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.

“On behalf of the government and good people of the state, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the state Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland. It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”

“The passing of Oba Dr Balogun marks the end of an era for Ibadanland, leaving behind a profound void in its rich history and heritage,” he added.

The late Olubadan was born on October 18, 1942.

The PUNCH reports that Olubadan ascended his forefathers’ throne two years ago after the passage of the late Oba Saliu Adetunji.

On Monday, the late monarch thanked God for the grace and privilege to clock two years on the throne, just as he thanked members of his advisory council for their unflinching support so far.

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Balogun, in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media, Oladele Ogunsola, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the second anniversary, which coincided with the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fast, was also used as an opportunity by the monarch to ask for prayers for the country by the Islamic faithful and expression of love for one another to make the period stress-free for the adherents.

The monarch said his clocking two years on the throne was a special grace by his creator that he could not take for granted.

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Family Set To Burry Late Olubadan by 4pm

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Family Set To Burry Late Olubadan by 4pm

The remains of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, will be interred according to Islamic rites today, Friday, March 15, 2024, at his Aliiwo ancestral home in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The PUNCH reports that the late monarch, who reigned for two years, joined his ancestors at the age of 81 late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, after a brief illness.

The burial announcement was made by the monarch’s younger brother who is the Baba-Kekere Olubadan, Kola Balogun.

It was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the deceased’s Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola.

He said,

“Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4pm on Friday (today), according to Islamic rites. The State Governor, Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early this morning.”

It will be recalled that the monarch marked his second anniversary about 72 hours ago.

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He said,

“Aged 81, the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hale and hearty on Monday during which he personally received a few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second anniversary on that day.”

The late Olubadan was a British-trained PhD holder, a former university lecturer, a former member of the management staff of Shell British Petroleum, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, a former Senator and a successful businessman.

His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council meeting, which he presided over last Saturday.

At that meeting, the decision to disrobe Mogaji Akinsola, Oladoja, was taken.

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He, however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, to head a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former Governor of the state, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.

The late Olubadan is survived by his wives, children, and grandchildren.

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500 patients benefitted from free surgeries in one week – Abiodun

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500 patients benefitted from free surgeries in one week – Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that over 500 surgeries have been performed on patients under his administration’s free surgical Intervention programme in the last week.

Abiodun disclosed this when he received the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday.

The governor said the free surgery programme was designed to provide succour to the poor and vulnerable who could not afford medical bills at this difficult time.

He said his government has also done a lot to improve the healthcare sector in the Gateway State since 2019.

Abiodun said, “We have also implemented our Health Insurance Programme called Ilera Dero and the Ibidero for the women. As of now, because of the prevalent economic situation, we have decided that all our women and children, the poor and vulnerable should go to our Primary Healthcare Centres and secondary or tertiary hospitals in the state. We will register them under our Free Health Insurance Programme.

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“Our pregnant women, when they go to the hospital, they get free pre and post-natal attention. After they put to bed, they also get N10,000.”

Abiodun disclosed that the state is creating a database that would track a family or community, and the kind of disease prevalent among them.

The government will also compile such records at the grassroots that would enable the government to predict predominant diseases in the family, community or area and take proper care to treat them.

Speaking on the situation of the 250-bed hospital located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the governor noted that his administration is collaborating with a partner, as part of its medical architecture, to run and make it a centre of medical excellence, to engender medical tourism in the country.

Abiodun noted that medical institutions in the state are wearing new looks as his government has employed a large number of medical personnel and purchased new equipment to make them render quality service to the people.

The governor described the relationship between the state Ministry of Health and the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, as cordial.

“We do not see the difference between the FMC, Abeokuta, and our own Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), because when there is a problem, we rush the patient to the nearest available medical facility. This has, over the years, helped us in dealing with difficult situations,” he added.

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He commended the committee for initiating the meeting, noting that it would help them review each other’s research, development, and new techniques and assist in dealing with different types of illnesses and diseases.

Speaking earlier, chairman of the committee and Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Prof Emem Bassey, commended Governor Abiodun for investing in the health sector, emphasizing that the increased funding, recruitment of different categories of health workers and renovation of over 100 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state, was worthy of note.

He said the committee, made up of all heads of federal medical institutions, was in the state for its 106th regular meeting to peer review and learn from each other to have a positive impact on their different hospitals at the end of the meeting.

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