BackgroundThe Nigerian health system has been plagued with numerous healthcare worker strikes (industrial action) at all levels. The purpose of this study is to document physicians’ views on healthcare worker-initiated strike action in Nigeria and represent a follow-on to a previous study where poor leadership and management were cited as the most common cause of strike action by healthcare workers.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive study was executed between April and June 2017. We used a self-administered pre-tested structured questionnaire with open-ended questions to allow for better expression of participants’ views. Participants were drawn mainly from the recently concluded West African College of Physicians (WACP)/Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Millennium Development Goal 6 Partnership for African Clinical Training (M-PACT) course. They represented the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Data were analysed using SPSS v 23. Simple frequencies were performed, and relevant tables/charts were developed.ResultsA total of 58 physicians (out of 131 participants reached) responded to the study, giving a response rate of 44.3%. 62.1% were males, 67.9% were between the ages of 30 and 39 years, and over 60% of respondents graduated prior to 2010. Poor staff welfare was cited by 16.7% as the commonest cause of strikes in the healthcare system. Other causes cited were salary issues (13.9%), leadership and management (13.9%), poor hospital infrastructure (11.1%), poor guidelines and services (11.1% each) and inter-professional disputes (5.6%). The negative consequences of strikes, the groups who benefit from them and solutions to the strikes were enumerated, including training physicians in leadership skills by 98.2% of respondents.ConclusionPoor staff welfare, salary and leadership/management and governmental inability to implement agreements were the common causes of healthcare worker strikes in this study. These strikes resulted in disruption to service delivery and training programmes, increased morbidity and mortality of patients and loss of confidence in the hospitals and the healthcare professions. The participants recommended that the Federal Government respects agreements made with the management of healthcare institutions, implements the National Health Act and ensures that only leaders and managers who are formally trained are appointed to healthcare management positions.

Medicinal plants have been documented over the years to play vital role in promoting human health. The study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of different fractions and isolated compound from Ricinodendron heudelotii leaves. The leaves of Ricinodendron heudelotii were extracted with ethanol and further partitioned sequentially using petroleum ether, ethylacetate and butanol. Bioassay–guided fractionation of the ethylacetate fraction was done using repeated column chromatographic technique while the structural elucidation of pure compound was carried out using mass spectra, 13C and 1H NMR analyses. Antioxidant potential of the fractions and isolated compound were evaluated with 2,2-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays and anti-inflammatory effect of fractions was measured by their inhibitory potency on nitric oxide (NO).Corilagin, an amorphous tannin was isolated and structurally elucidated. Corilagin showed scavenging effect against ABTS and DPPH radicals which vary in a dose dependent manner. It also showed an antioxidant potential with IC50 value of 0.003 mg/mL comparable to vitamin C 0.001 mg/mL) used as standard. The butanol and ethylacetate fractions exhibited significant (p < 0.05) NO inhibition of 60 and 69% respectively after treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with lipopolysaccharide. These results demonstrated the role of isolated corilagin as a promising potent antioxidant while the ethylacetate and butanol fractions suppressed the expression of an inflammation mediator by inhibiting nitric oxide.

The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic has caused countless governmental and societal challenges around the world. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has been exposed in recent years to a series of epidemics including Ebola and Lassa fever. In this paper, we document our perception of the national response to COVID-19 in Nigeria. The response to the pandemic is with a healthcare system that has changed as a result of previous infectious disease outbreaks but in the context of scarce resources typical of many low-middle income countries. We make recommendations regarding what measures should be in place for future epidemics.

Objective: This work assessed the antimicrobial activity and toxicological consequence of the ethanolic extract of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill). Methods:The antimicrobial potential of the leaf extract was investigated against 9 different microorganisms using the agar well diffusion method while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was ascertained. Toxicity evaluations were carried out on five groups of seven albino rats each for 28 days. Rats in Group A received normal saline, while those in Groups B, C, D, and E received 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of the extract. After treatment, they were anesthetized, blood samples collected for biochemical assays; organs isolated, weighed, and processed for histopathological studies. Results:The phytochemical screening showed the presence of glycosides, tannins, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids while saponin was absent. Antimicrobial effect was observed against 7 of the 9 microorganisms tested with inhibition zone and MIC ranging from 18 to 36 mm and 31.25 to 62.5 mg/mL, respectively. Liver function tests were significantly (p<0.05) increased, whereas no significant change in total protein and creatinine levels was observed. Histology showed a sinusoidal congestion and vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes in groups administered higher doses, and a dose-dependent reduction was observed in some hematological parameters. Conclusion:The results obtained suggest that the R. heudelotii may not induce significant toxic effect below 3600 mg/kg b.w. and could serve as an effective antibiotic.

Objective: This work assessed the antimicrobial activity and toxicological consequence of the ethanolic extract of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill). Methods:The antimicrobial potential of the leaf extract was investigated against 9 different microorganisms using the agar well diffusion method while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was ascertained. Toxicity evaluations were carried out on five groups of seven albino rats each for 28 days. Rats in Group A received normal saline, while those in Groups B, C, D, and E received 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of the extract. After treatment, they were anesthetized, blood samples collected for biochemical assays; organs isolated, weighed, and processed for histopathological studies. Results:The phytochemical screening showed the presence of glycosides, tannins, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids while saponin was absent. Antimicrobial effect was observed against 7 of the 9 microorganisms tested with inhibition zone and MIC ranging from 18 to 36 mm and 31.25 to 62.5 mg/mL, respectively. Liver function tests were significantly (p<0.05) increased, whereas no significant change in total protein and creatinine levels was observed. Histology showed a sinusoidal congestion and vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes in groups administered higher doses, and a dose-dependent reduction was observed in some hematological parameters. Conclusion:The results obtained suggest that the R. heudelotii may not induce significant toxic effect below 3600 mg/kg b.w. and could serve as an effective antibiotic.