Health
Dentist shortage: UK to waive qualifying exam for foreign dentists
Dentist shortage: UK to waive qualifying exam for foreign dentists
The UK government is currently making plans to permit foreign dentists to practice their profession without undergoing a qualification exam in a bid to address the shortage of dentists.
The proposed changes therefore aim to expedite the process, allowing foreign dentists to commence work sooner. Currently, dentists from non-European countries must pass an overseas entrance exam to work in Britain.
The General Dental Council (GDC) would therefore be empowered to provisionally register dentists based on its assessment of their qualifications, ensuring patient safety and care quality are upheld, while dentists on the provisional register would require supervision.
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Shortage of dentists
A significant majority of NHS dental practices are unable to accommodate new patients, resulting in a notable increase in emergency room visits for dental issues, particularly among children with tooth decay.
Also, the shortage of NHS dentists has led to long queues forming outside a new dental practice in Bristol, the first in the city to accept new patients in over six months.
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The situation escalated to the extent that police had to intervene as the practice struggled to accommodate the overwhelming demand, resulting in the disappointment of many patients.
The dental union has therefore criticized the government for attempting to address the shortage without tackling the underlying issues deterring dentists from NHS work.
On the other hand, Health Minister Dame Andrea Leadsom The shortage of NHS dentists has led to long queues forming outside a new dental practice in Bristol, the first in the city to accept new patients in over six months.
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Current situation
Currently, dentists who obtain their qualifications outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) such as Nigeria must undergo an examination administered by Britain’s dental regulator, the GDC.
This is with the exemption of dentists holding qualifications from 14 specific universities in Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and New Zealand are exempt from this examination requirement, only if they graduated before 2001.
Health authorities have characterized this UK entrance exams as “red tape,” attributing them to “prolonged delays” in dentists’ registration processes and subsequent commencement of treatment for patients.
Dentist shortage: UK to waive qualifying exam for foreign dentists
Health
Foreigners now visit Nigeria for plastic surgery, others – Minister
Foreigners now visit Nigeria for plastic surgery, others – Minister
Nigeria’s healthcare is no longer in crisis, Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said.
He said citizens of other countries in Asia, Europe and South America were beginning to visit Nigeria for medical treatment, especially in plastic surgery.
He spoke in an interview on Arise TV, maintaining that Nigeria now has reversed medical tourism.
“Today, we have a reversed medical tourism. We no longer have a japa syndrome in the healthcare system.
People are coming from India, South America and Europe for medical treatment in Nigeria, especially in the surgical area.”
He claimed that with improvements in the healthcare system, the country was witnessing a reversal of the ‘japa syndrome,’ suggesting that medical personnel were returning home from abroad.
According to him, the proliferation of aesthetic hospitals, numbering close to 900 across Nigeria, also contributes to attracting patients seeking services such as plastic surgery.
“Today, we have almost 900 aesthetic hospitals around Nigeria. People are coming to get plastic surgery,’’ he said.
He noted that the administration’s commitment to prioritising public health led to positive changes in the healthcare sector.
“We have a President now that believes a healthy nation is the core to harnessing our biggest asset, which is our human capital,” Alausa said.
He added that the government allocated dedicated funds and initiated collaborations to enhance primary healthcare services and expand health insurance coverage.
“The President has mandated us to increase coverage from about seven million to about 50 million people to have health insurance in the next two to three years.
“This marks the highest budget allocation for the health sector in almost 24 years,” he said.
Health
Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
The Adamawa State Government confirmed on Friday evening that 42 individuals have tragically succumbed to a measles outbreak.
Felix Tangwame, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, disclosed this somber update, specifying that the fatalities occurred in Mubi and Gombi local government areas.
Addressing reporters following a state executive council meeting at the Government House, Yola, Tangwame detailed the extent of the outbreak. He revealed that eight wards in Mubi and seven wards in Gombi were affected by the measles outbreak, resulting in the loss of 42 lives out of 131 and 177 affected individuals, respectively, in the mentioned LGAs.
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In response to the crisis, all local government areas in the state have been placed on red alert as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread.
Tangwame emphasized the promptness of his ministry’s response upon receiving reports of the outbreak, attributing their ability to manage the situation effectively to swift action. He assured that both the government and development partners are actively engaged in addressing the situation.
Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
Health
Nido infant milk neither registered nor sold in Nigeria – NAFDAC
Nido infant milk neither registered nor sold in Nigeria – NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Sunday declared that the Nido infant milk formula, alleged to contain sugar or honey, was not registered and sold in Nigeria.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Mr Adeyeye said the attention of NAFDAC’s Management was drawn to an online publication alleging that one of the worlds largest consumer goods company added sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases.
It stated that the online publication of April 17, 2024 was being circulated widely to the general public.
Mr Adeyeye said the report further stated that samples of baby food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America were tested and results revealed that sugar and honey were added in form of sucrose in samples of Nido and Cerelac.
“The Management of NAFDAC wishes to use this medium to reassure the public that the Agency exercises due regulatory diligence in the registration of infant and young children foods distributed and used in Nigeria.
“This is in line with relevant Codex Alimentarius international food standards (Codex) and more specifically, Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).
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“This is applicable to all categories of infant and young children foods distributed by manufacturers, importers, and marketers of infant and young children foods operating within Nigeria.
“Regarding the mention of Nido follow-up milk formula in the publication, NAFDAC wishes to state that the product is not registered in Nigeria, is not known to the Agency and is not in circulation in Nigeria,” she stated.
According to Ms Adeyeye, the range of Nestle Cerelac infant cereals distributed in Nigeria are duly registered with NAFDAC in line with the Nigerian Industrial Standard for Foods for Infants and Young Children.
“Processed Cereal Based foods (NIS 256:2010) and the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CXS 74-1981 was adopted in 1981, revised in 2006, amended in 2017, 2019, and 2023), as well as the applicable NAFDAC regulations for compliance with safety, quality, and labelling requirements.
“Adequate, optimal nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential.
“The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) implements the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, developing international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice with the mandate to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair international food trade.
“Nigeria (NAFDAC) is an active participant at these international food standards setting arena to contribute Nigerians positions during food standards development,” it said.
According to the statement, the Agency, on March 22 held a stakeholders engagement with members of the Association of Infant Food Manufacturers and Marketers in Nigeria, AIFMN, anchored by the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FSAN, Directorate, to further drive home the importance and special place of infant and young child nutrition.
Adeyeye reassured the public that the Agency was fully alive to her responsibilities of assuring the safety, wholesomeness and quality of infant and young children foods offered for sale in Nigeria in compliance with the relevant standards and regulations.
Nido infant milk neither registered nor sold in Nigeria – NAFDAC
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