St. Tubi Pharmaceutical & Diagnostic Services Ltd

01/01/2024

Happy New Year to our esteemed customers.
Thanks you for your continuous patronage and for choosing us and putting your trust in our services, we are committed to serve you better in this new year. We wish you a prosperous and fabulous year.

19/10/2023

20/10/2022

. If you notice any of these, you need to see a doctor immediately. Early detection can save one's life.

31/05/2020

World No To***co Day 2020
🚬
Every cigarette you smoke is harmful. To***co kills about 8 million people each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking-related disease. See how it affects your life:

1. Lungs: your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer. Smoking causes 84% of deaths from lung cancer and 83% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

2. Circulation: when the poisons from the tar in ci******es enters your blood, it makes your blood thicker, and increase chances of clot formation. It also increases your blood pressure and heart rate, making your heart work harder than normal. Again, it narrows your arteries, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen rich blood circulating to your organs.

3. Heart: smoking doubles your risk of having a heart attack. It damages your heart and your blood circulation, hence increasing the risk of conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease (damaged blood vessels) and cerebrovascular disease (damaged arteries that supply blood to your brain).

4. Mouth and throat: smoking causes unattractive problems, such as bad breath and stained teeth, and can also cause gum disease, damage your sense of taste and can lead to oral thrush. The most serious damage smoking causes in your mouth and throat is an increased risk of cancer in your lips, tongue, throat, voice box and gullet (oesophagus). More than 93% of oropharyngeal cancers (cancer in part of the throat) are caused by smoking.

5. Stomach: smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking can weaken the muscle that controls the lower end of your gullet (oesophagus) and allow acid from the stomach to travel in the wrong direction back up your gullet, a process known as reflux.

6. Skin: smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means that if you smoke, your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite.

7. Reproduction & Fertility: Smoking can cause male impotence, as it damages the blood vessels that supply blood to the p***s. It can also damage s***m, reduce s***m count and cause testicular cancer. For women, smoking can reduce fertility. One study found that smokers were over three times more likely than non-smokers to have taken more than one year to conceive.
Smoking also increases the risk of cervical cancer. People who smoke are less able to get rid of the HPV infection from their body, which can develop into cancer. Smoking while you are pregnant can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness, and it increases the risk of cot death by at least 25%.

8. Brain: if you smoke, you are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn't smoke. In fact, smoking increases your risk of having a stroke by at least 50%, which can cause brain damage and death. And, by smoking, you double your risk of dying from a stroke.

9. Bones: smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle. Women need to be especially careful as they are more likely to suffer from brittle bones (osteoporosis) than non-smokers.

In summary, smokers are liable to die young beyond. If you can quit smoking today, your chances of having some of these will reduce. For the sake of your health, please STOP SMOKING!

References:
1. To***co Free Initiative: World Health Organization
2. Effects of Smoking on the Body: NHS England
3. Picture credit: freepik.com & WHO

24/04/2020

, -19

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52394485

The first two people have been injected as part of a UK study of a Covid-19 vaccine.

25/03/2020

"The * * first emerged in 1950s in the American-Korean war in Korea (Hantan river). It spreads from rat/mice if humans injest their body fluids. Human-human transmission is rare. There were even vaccines developed for it. Please do not panic, unless you are eating rats."

20/03/2020

With x-ray machines, he sees the invisible. When he picks ultrasound probe, even babies in the womb smiles. No wonder some patients say that they are better after the scan 😀. This guy has a covenant with destiny to be a radiographer and we are blessed to have him.
On this day, we appreciate your efforts at St. Tubi and wish you all the good things that you desire in this new age. Happy birthday Mr. Raymond.

02/02/2020

*Coronavirus: What You Need To Know and How To Protect Yourself*

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in animals like bats and camels but may rarely be passed from animals to humans, and from one person to another.

Coronaviruses include the virus responsible for the common cold and more severe diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The new strain (or form) called the novel coronavirus has not been previously seen in humans but was identified in December.

So far, 80 people have died from the virus and over 3000 cases have been confirmed with new cases also feared to be on the rise. Information about the new strain of the virus is constantly being provided as research is ongoing.

*How is the infection transmitted?*

Spread has been noted from animals to humans as the first few infected people worked in markets in Wuhan where contact with animals and seafood was frequent. Human to human transmission has now been established with confirmed cases seen in those who made contact with the workers at Wuhan Hubei Province, China. Confirmed cases have also been seen in Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam. The most at-risk people are children, the elderly and the sick.

*Transmission is often via:*

1. Close contact with affected persons
2. Touching surfaces or objects with the virus on it then touching the eys or the mouth
3. The air when an infected person coughs or sneezes

*What are the common signs and symptoms of the infection?*

Symptoms have been noted to occur between 1 to 14 days of contact with an infected person. However, newly infected people may spread viruses before they start having symptoms. It is estimated that each infected person spreads the virus to between 1 to 2 people.

The following are symptoms that have been noted in people who have been diagnosed with the new strain of the coronavirus.

1. Fever
2. Cough which is often dry
3. Shortness of breath at rest and difficulty breathing
4. Pneumonia infection
5. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
6. Kidney failure

These symptoms are also present in other diseases and will require medical intervention for a proper diagnosis ad care

*How is the disease treated?*

Currently, there are no vaccines for the disease and will take a few years to develop. Treatment is largely to support the affected person and treat symptoms as they come up. The infected person is admitted often in the isolation unit to limit spread to other people and offered fluids and medications as necessary.

*How to protect yourself and your loved ones*

1. Wash your hands frequently, especially when you care for a sick person, before eating, after using the toilet, when your hands are dirty and after contact with animals. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers or soap and water should be used to wash hands.
2. Practice safe food practices by eating properly cooked meals and practicing good hygiene when handling food. Avoid raw food (milk or meat).
3. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue paper. Discard tissue paper after usage and wash our hands.
4. Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough and refer them to a nearby facility immediately
5. Avoid contact with live animals and surfaces they have made contact within areas affected by the coronavirus
6. Stay at home if sick

BY DR ZUBAIR ABDULAHI
02 FEBRUARY 2020
The Guardian Life

24/01/2020

Things You Must Know About the Disease

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 2-21 days duration that occurs in West Africa.
The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevention and control measures.
Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
The overall case-fatality rate is 1%. Observed case-fatality rate among patients hospitalized with severe cases of Lassa fever is 15%.
Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.
Background
Though first described in the 1950s, the virus causing Lassa disease was not identified until 1969. The virus is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the virus family Arenaviridae.

About 80% of people who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms. 1 in 5 infections result in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.

It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that humans become infected from contact with infected animals. The animal reservoir, or host, of Lassa virus is a rodent of the genus Mastomys, commonly known as the “multimammate rat.” Mastomys rats infected with Lassa virus do not become ill, but they can shed the virus in their urine and faeces.

Because the clinical course of the disease is so variable, detection of the disease in affected patients has been difficult. When presence of the disease is confirmed in a community, however, prompt isolation of affected patients, good infection prevention and control practices, and rigorous contact tracing can stop outbreaks.

Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin (where it was diagnosed for the first time in November 2014), Ghana (diagnosed for the first time in October 2011), Guinea, Liberia, Mali (diagnosed for the first time in February 2009), Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.

Symptoms of Lassa Fever

The incubation period of Lassa fever ranges from 6–21 days. The onset of the disease, when it is symptomatic, is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, and malaise. After a few days, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and abdominal pain may follow. In severe cases facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose, va**na or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop.

Protein may be noted in the urine. Shock, seizures, tremor, disorientation, and coma may be seen in the later stages. Deafness occurs in 25% of patients who survive the disease. In half of these cases, hearing returns partially after 1–3 months. Transient hair loss and gait disturbance may occur during recovery.

Death usually occurs within 14 days of onset in fatal cases. The disease is especially severe late in pregnancy, with maternal death and/or fetal loss occurring in more than 80% of cases during the third trimester.

Mode of Transmission

Humans usually become infected with Lassa virus from exposure to urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa fever. There is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread between humans. Person-to-person transmission occurs in both community and health-care settings, where the virus may be spread by contaminated medical equipment, such as re-used needles. Sexual transmission of Lassa virus has been reported.

Lassa fever occurs in all age groups and both sexes. Persons at greatest risk are those living in rural areas where Mastomys are usually found, especially in communities with poor sanitation or crowded living conditions. Health workers are at risk if caring for Lassa fever patients in the absence of proper barrier nursing and infection prevention and control practices.

Diagnosis

Because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and non-specific, clinical diagnosis is often difficult, especially early in the course of the disease. Lassa fever is difficult to distinguish from other viral haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola virus disease as well as other diseases that cause fever, including malaria, shigellosis, typhoid fever and yellow fever.

Definitive diagnosis requires testing that is available only in reference laboratories. Laboratory specimens may be hazardous and must be handled with extreme care. Lassa virus infections can only be diagnosed definitively in the laboratory using the following tests:

1. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay
2. Antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
3. Antigen detection tests
4. Virus isolation by cell culture.

Treatment and Prophylaxis

The antiviral drug ribavirin seems to be an effective treatment for Lassa fever if given early on in the course of clinical illness. There is no evidence to support the role of ribavirin as post-exposure prophylactic treatment for Lassa fever.

There is currently no vaccine that protects against Lassa fever.

Prevention and Control

Prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good “community hygiene” to discourage rodents from entering homes. Effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households and keeping cats. Because Mastomys are so abundant in endemic areas, it is not possible to completely eliminate them from the environment. Family members should always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.

In health-care settings, staff should always apply standard infection prevention and control precautions when caring for patients, regardless of their presumed diagnosis. These include basic hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (to block splashes or other contact with infected materials), safe injection practices and safe burial practices.

Health-care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Lassa fever should apply extra infection control measures to prevent contact with the patient’s blood and body fluids and contaminated surfaces or materials such as clothing and bedding. When in close contact (within 1 metre) of patients with Lassa fever, health-care workers should wear face protection (a face shield or a medical mask and goggles), a clean, non-sterile long-sleeved gown, and gloves (sterile gloves for some procedures).

Laboratory workers are also at risk. Samples taken from humans and animals for investigation of Lassa virus infection should be handled by trained staff and processed in suitably equipped laboratories under maximum biological containment conditions.

On rare occasions, travellers from areas where Lassa fever is endemic export the disease to other countries. Although malaria, typhoid fever, and many other tropical infections are much more common, the diagnosis of Lassa fever should be considered in febrile patients returning from West Africa, especially if they have had exposures in rural areas or hospitals in countries where Lassa fever is known to be endemic. Health-care workers seeing a patient suspected to have Lassa fever should immediately contact local and national experts for advice and to arrange for laboratory testing.

© WHO

01/01/2020

We thank God for the opportunity to enter into this new year. We also thank our esteemed clients for your patronage in 2019. We promise to serve you better this year 2020. As a team, we say Happy New Year to you.

22/11/2019

We are glad to inform our dear clients and the good people of Bayelsa State that St.Tubi Pharmaceutical & Diagnostic Services Ltd has been accredited by Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS). With this, all enrollees of BHIS are now entitled to benefit from seconadary services (e.g lab tests, ultrasound scan, x-rays, ECG etc) that are contained in the BHIS Diagnostic Test list at our facility. As promised by the scheme to its enrolles, we are fully committed to your health needs. Feel free to walk with your referral forms and we will offer you quality healthcare services

08/11/2019

Do you know anyone in Bayelsa State who is having the following symptoms:
1. cough with sputum and blood at times
2. chest pains
3. weakness
4. weight loss
5. fever and night sweats.
The patient may be having PTB and will benefit from free tuberculosis services that are being rendered by St. Tubi PDSL in partnership with German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (GLRA). Contact us to find out more.

08/11/2019

On this special day, we celebrate with our team of radiographers & we are glad to inform you that our digital x-ray machine is fully functional now. We do all kinds of x-rays and print films with radiologist's report.
Come and do your x-rays with qualified radiographers & get protected from unnecessary exposures to ionizing radiations.

04/11/2019

15/10/2019

Hand-washing: Do's and don'ts

Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit.

Frequent hand-washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Find out when and how to wash your hands properly.

When to wash your hands

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or spread them to others. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands before:

1. Preparing food or eating
2. Treating wounds or caring for a sick person
3. Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

1. Preparing food
2. Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
3. Touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste
4. Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
5. Treating wounds or caring for a sick person
6. Handling garbage
7. Handling pet food or pet treats

Also, wash your hands when they are visibly dirty.

How to wash your hands

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap.

Follow these steps:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water — either warm or cold.
2. Apply soap and lather well.
3. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
4. Rinse well.
5. Dry your hands with a clean towel or air-dry them.

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which don't require water, are an acceptable alternative when soap and water aren't available. If you use a hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60% alcohol. Follow these steps:

1. Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand. Check the label to find out the appropriate amount.
2. Rub your hands together.
3. Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

Kids need clean hands, too

Help children stay healthy by encouraging them to wash their hands frequently. Wash your hands with your child to show him or her how it's done. To prevent rushing, suggest washing hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. If your child can't reach the sink on his or her own, keep a step stool handy.

Be sure to supervise young children using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Swallowing alcohol-based sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Store the container safely away after use.

A simple way to stay healthy

Hand-washing offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. Adopting this habit can play a major role in protecting your health.

© Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).

07/10/2019

@ St. Tubi PDSL, we know that every experience of the customer counts. That's why we always listen, care and make a difference in the lives of our clients.
Happy Customer Service Week to all our clients. Thank you for believing in us!

29/09/2019

: Simple Ways to Prevent Heart Attack and Stay Healthy

Studies have found that heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in several countries across the globe, and Nigeria is no exception. Prevalence of heart disease and strokes has been on the increase nowadays say experts. It is essential to take necessary preventive measures and make them part of one’s lifestyle to keep the heart healthy.

It is recommended to keep the following things in mind to prevent a heart attack and stay healthy:

1. Eat healthy — Ensure that your diet comprises a balance of nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Add abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs/lean meat, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and grains to your daily diet. Reduce your salt, sweet and red meat intake, to maintain cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

2. Exercise regularly — Lead an active lifestyle, which will not only keep your weight in check, but also help improve blood circulation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. This further aids in maintaining heart health, thereby reducing the possibility of a heart attack. A good mix of cardiovascular and weight training with yoga is extremely effective.

3. Avoid alcohol and smoking — Steer clear of alcohol, smoking, and any such harmful addictive substances.

4. Be relaxed and get enough sleep— Try finding a method to ease out and relax such as yoga or meditation to reduce your stress levels, as stress is one of the biggest triggers for heart attack across all age groups. Adequate sleep is equally important, in order to reduce the risk of disorders like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, which eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke.

5. Maintain blood sugar — Excessive sugar in your blood levels is extremely risky, as it can damage the arteries, which is found in the case of pre-diabetics as well as diabetics. Go for regular check-ups to ensure that your blood sugar is in control, to prevent diabetes, and thereby, any chance of a heart attack.

While all of the above help in reducing the risk of a heart attack, at times, it is inevitable. However, time is of utmost importance during medical emergencies to mitigate the loss of life. Identifying the following signs and symptoms can help save a life during heart attack:

1. Chest pain that feels like pressure, squeezing, or fullness. The pain is most often in the center of the chest. It may also be felt in the jaw, shoulder, arms, back, and stomach. It can last for more than a few minutes or come and go.
2. Numbness, aching or tingling in the arm (usually the left arm)
3. Shortness of breath
4. Cold sweat
5. Light-headedness
6. Nausea (more common in women)
7. Vomiting
8. Weakness or fatigue or altered mental status, especially in elderly and women

Heart attacks can be fatal, but early medical attention can save a life. If you see someone experiencing the symptoms, remember the following checklist to ensure their safety:

1. Have the person sit down, rest, and try to keep calm.
2. Loosen any tight clothing.
3. Avoid any physical activity.
4. Call for emergency medical helplines.
5. Do not leave the person unattended or wait for the symptoms to go away. Do not allow the person to deny the symptoms and convince you not to call for emergency help.
6. It is extremely crucial to follow a healthy and active lifestyle, post the survival of the heart attack.
7. Keep your medication routine in check.
8. Follow healthy dietary habit.
9. Lead an active life — let exercise be part of daily chores.
10. Monitor your physical condition on regular basis.
11. Always have the emergency contacts handy.

©️Lifestyle Desk, 2019.

25/09/2019

: What You Can Do to Be Safe.
You go to the hospital to get well, right? Of course, but did you know that patients can get infections in the hospital while they are being treated for something else?

Imagine a scenario like the following:

Your mother starts having chest pain.
Your son breaks his ankle during football practice.
Your spouse is in a car accident.
You rush to the hospital.

Thankfully, you are told that your loved one is going to recover, but will spend some time in the hospital. However, time in the hospital can also put patients at risk for a healthcare-associated infection (HAI), such as a blood, surgical site, or urinary tract infection.

Every day, patients get infections in healthcare facilities while they are being treated for something else. These infections can have devastating emotional, financial, and medical effects. Worst of all, they can be deadly.

Healthcare procedures can leave you vulnerable to germs that cause HAIs. These germs can be spread in healthcare settings from patient to patient on unclean hands of healthcare personnel or through the improper use or reuse of equipment.
In the picture below, are some of the things you can do as a patient or loved one of a patient to be save.

Ref: Centre for Disease Control

14/09/2019

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, follow us here to know more about Sickle Cell Disease and benefit from our genotype & blood group tests this month.

13/09/2019

You don't need to commit su***de, there's always a better option. Talk to us, we care about you.

Facts About Suicidel