is dreaming of Nicosan4All ;-)
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Xechem International, Inc. XKEM. OTC BB. $4959963 Debt: Conv. A. 4/3/2007.
http://www.privateraise.com/downloads/TPR-20070417.pdf
NGO Donates Drugs To Health Centres
Having identified lack of drugs as one of the major problems confronting health care delivery in Nigeria, an international non-governmental organisation, ‘Health Community Projects’ in collaboration with the health and human services secretariat, has donated drugs worth N300 million to the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during the donation of some of the drugs to Kuje health clinic, Dr. (Mrs.) Hadiza Balorabe of the health and human services secretariat, explained that the drugs were being distributed to various communities in the FCT area councils who were supposed to put up their requirements to the federal medical store upon which drugs that would last for a period of three months would be donated to them.
She stressed that the agencies would not want a situation where there would be a lapse in the availability of drugs for any community.
She pointed out that health workers, who would man the drugs would be trained after which they would be required to update their facilities by renovating their stores and the entire clinic to ensure safety and preservation of the drugs.
Balorabe said it was the responsibility of local governments to provide primary health care for their communities, but required the assistance of NGOs and corporate organisations for effective service delivery.
She called on the entire Kuje community to take advantage of the drugs, donated by the agencies to sustain healthy living, while admonishing the health workers to ensure effective service delivery.
In his remark, chairman of Kuje area council, Hon. Danladi Etsu Zhin, who was represented by the vice chairman, Hon. Alhaji Dantani Dogo, thanked the agency for the gesture which, he described as very important service to humanity. He said their act of kindness was dear to God’s heart because they were touching the lives of the masses who ordinarily could not afford to buy expensive drugs.
To this effect, he prayed that the Almighty God would continue to bless them and grant them a larger heart and the enablement to do more.
Zhin assured that the drugs would be used for the very purpose for which they were given. He called on the agencies to continue to partner with the council in its drive to serve the people, especially at the grassroots.
http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/product_info.php?products_id=28276
Call to treat sickle cell better
Page last updated at 23:50 GMT, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 00:50 UK
More than 12,000 people have sickle cell disease in the UK
Treatment of sickle cell anaemia is compromised by health workers' lack of knowledge, a report warns.
The first national survey of the disease found seriously ill patients were not offered support from sufficiently experienced staff.
Patients' use of painkillers was not effectively monitored, in some cases leading to in fatal overdoses, it said.
The inherited genetic disease affects the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
It can cause severe pain and damage to the organs.
Not enough support
The charity, the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, carried out the research into the deaths of 55 patients with sickle disease or the related condition thalassaemia.
Of 19 patients in the study who had complained of pain and who subsequently died in hospital, nine had been given excessive doses of painkillers and five of those patients died because of complications due to overdose.
The report "A Sickle Crisis?" also found the cause of death of some patients was unclear.
Doctors and nurses need to be more familiar with what needs to be done if patients' vitals signs become abnormal
Dr David Mason, study author
Professor Sebastian Lucas, one of the study authors, said: "We were surprised that our review found such a high number of cases where we did not know the actual cause of death.
"This is a wake-up call to the clinical community. Sickle cell disease is as common as cystic fibrosis, yet less is known about the severe complications that can lead to death in sickle cell disease patients."
The report also found the take-up of vaccinations by sickle cell disease patients at their GP practice was low.
Dr David Mason, co-author of the study, said: "Doctors and nurses need to be more familiar with what needs to be done if patients' vitals signs become abnormal.
"We need a multidisciplinary approach to acute pain management and regular reviews of therapy to control pain adequately."
People it affects
Around 12,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disease and it is one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions.
Sickle Cell mainly affects people of Afro-Caribbean, African, Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Asian origins. Thalassaemia mainly affects people from Asia, the Mediterranean and the Middle-East.
The demographics of where patients live have changed. At one time sickle cell disease was mostly found in London and the West Midlands, but it is now across the UK.
A Painful Condition
Sickle cell anaemia patients carry abnormal haemoglobin in their red blood cells
Normal red blood cells are doughnut-shaped and can bend and flex and travel easily along the narrowest of blood vessels
Those carrying sickle haemoglobin have a sickle shape destroying the cells' natural flexibility, making them less able to squeeze through small blood vessels
This can lead to blockages in the vessels, preventing oxygen from getting through to the tissues and causing severe pain and damage to the organs
When a blood vessel becomes blocked this can trigger an attack of pain know as a crisis.
Dr Mason said "We need a supporting health network from GP practice to hospitals to expert centres, to ensure that their care is managed well regardless of where they are in the UK."
Professor Lucas said it is now vital to set up the national database of sickle and thalassaemia patients proposed by the Department of Health because of the scale of the problem.
"Only when we have this framework for the uniform collection of clinical and outcome data, can we then audit patient outcomes and treatments.
"Then we will understand the disease better and so improve the management and quality of acute and chronic care."
Dr Asaah Nkohkwo, chief executive of the Sickle Cell Society helped with the NCEPOD study.
He said: "I am appalled by the findings. They show how much of a gap exists in the delivery of the care services for sickle cell patients including the lack of knowledge of health professionals and the consequences that families affected have had to face as revealed by the autopsy reports."
Dr Nkohkwo said the research has been used in the development of the NHS standards of care document for adults with sickle cell disease which is being launched at the House of Commons next month.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7408179.stm
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Khaleej Times Online >> News >> MIDDLE EAST
Study calls for steps to check spread of sickle cell anaemia
By our correspondent
22 May 2008
MANAMA — Forty-seven per cent of sickle cell anaemia patients lack knowledge on how to prevent complications in their diseases, according to a recent medical study.
Conducted by the ICU at state-run Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), the study aims to tackle complications of the disease. Around 18,000 Bahrainis have been found suffering from the disease, while 50,000 carry its genes in their bodies. The government has pinned high hopes on pre-marriage medical check-ups to eliminate new cases.
The study is part of efforts to increase the lifespan of patients as earlier patients could hardly reach adulthood but now many live to the age of 60 and more. The study’s findings were announced early this week during a festival to promote patients to lead healthy lives. The study calls for the formation of sections for sickle cell patients at every hospital with a special medical team to treat them as 16,000 patients are admitted to hospitals every year with most of them come with serious health complications that require intensive care. More awareness campaigns would be organised to inform patients and their family members on how to prevent painful conditions.
Sickle cell patients have been criticising health services at SMC’s ER for not giving them the required attention which resulted in the death of at least two patients. However, the doctor who deals with such patients, Dr Abdullah Al Ajmi, said that in many cases doctors and nurses were forced to give only painkillers to patients as the disease could not be cured without bone marrow transplant.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2008/May/middleeast_May540.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
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Nurses need to know more about sickle cell
Published: 21 May 2008 12:44 Last Updated: 21 May 2008 12:44
Clinical knowledge on the complications of sickle cell disease is poor say authors of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD).
The authors say the findings of the first national survey of sickle cell disease and thalassaemia deaths should be a 'wake-up call' to nurses and doctors.
Case notes from 55 patient deaths were examined. In nine patients, the authors decided excessive doses of opioids had been given. Of these, five patients had complications due to opioid overdose.
Those needing care for acute episodes often did not get the support they required from healthcare workers with sufficient knowledge and experience, the NCEPOD authors found.
It called for better monitoring of patients on strong pain killers such as opiods to prevent overdose and respiratory failure.
Dr David Mason, NCEPOD Clinical Co-ordinator and one of the study authors added: 'We need a multidisciplinary approach to acute pain management and regular reviews of therapy to control pain adequately. Doctors and nurses need to be more familiar with what needs to be done if patients' vitals signs become abnormal.'
Few sickle cell disease patients were getting vaccinated against pneumococcal infection by their GP, the report also showed. Without this protection, these individuals face a 250-fold increased risk of infection, other research has found.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/clinicalnews/2008/05/nurses_need_to_know_more_about_sickle_cell.html
You do good work my friend! My post was simply a suggestion in that she was willing to give locations in Abuja where we know there is lots of availability. The point was - what about locations of supply in the outlying areas, distant from the source - how would she respond?
I have done my share of emails of course, much like others and yourself. Sadly, my time availability (and to some extent interest) has waned in the last month or two, but I still put in about an hour a day. You and I know Nicosan/Niprisan will come of age, however I am less convinced of my/our participation as a shareholder when analyzing current managements performance towards us. Guess I am feeling kinda burnt like. Certainly I do appreciate the work of many fine members on this board who have Nicosan and Xechem in their best interest and blood, and am most pleased to count you in this group. Many thanks for your efforts.
you can find more information by contacting individuals. for instance, when Fox found this article about WHO demanding new trials, I looked at who wrote the darn thing. Many of you found my post and saw that the writer, etc, were sharlatans at best.
Tell her you are in Maiduguri (city NWrn Nigeria) and see if there are any places there where Nicosan is available...?
Conclusions
The burden of suffering is tremendous among many patients with sickle cell disease. These patients experience disease-related pain on many days of their lives and usually do not seek medical attention until their symptoms are overwhelming. They often attempt to treat themselves and thus do not always come to the attention of the health care system. Obtaining optimal care for patients with sickle cell disease is challenging. Many patients are not in a coordinated program aimed at prevention of long-term complications and acute pain crises. They rely heavily on emergency and acute care facilities for pain control.
Obtaining specialty care can be a substantial challenge because the number of health professionals trained to treat the disease is limited and the number of professionals specializing in the treatment of this disease is decreasing. The likelihood that patients with sickle cell disease have a principal physician is low. Transitioning from pediatric care to adult care poses particular challenges. Many children rely on public insurance for their care. Gaps in coverage occur, leading to gaps in care.
No population-based registries exist that provide good estimates of the number of people with sickle cell disease. Surveys indicate that a large proportion of patients who have sickle cell disease are poor and from underserved communities. Most U.S. patients with sickle cell disease are ethnic minorities. For many, the limited resources and lack of culturally competent care by experienced clinicians set the stage for suboptimal care.
Hydroxyurea is an important major advance in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Strong evidence supports the efficacy of hydroxyurea in adults to decrease severe painful episodes, hospitalizations, number of blood transfusions, and acute chest syndrome. Although the evidence for efficacy of hydroxyurea treatment for children is not as strong, the emerging data are encouraging. The current data on the risks of both short- and long-term harms of hydroxyurea therapy are reassuring, and the risks of hydroxyurea use in adults are acceptable compared with the risks of untreated sickle cell disease.
It is difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of hydroxyurea in everyday practice because we lack precise estimates of the number of people with sickle cell disease in the United States and the number of people receiving hydroxyurea. Furthermore, although barriers to the use of hydroxyurea in persons with sickle cell disease seem to be extensive, little research exists on these patient-, parent/family/caregiver-, provider-, and system-level barriers. More studies are required to address these issues.
The best way to achieve optimal care for patients with sickle cell disease, including preventive care, is for patients to be treated in clinics specializing in the care of this disease. All patients with sickle cell disease should have a principal health care provider, and that provider, if not a hematologist, should be in frequent consultation with one. The National Institutes of Health funds sickle cell research centers and several states currently support sickle cell specialty clinics. Increased funding for basic, clinical, and social research on this disease is critically needed. There is an urgent need for centers specializing in the treatment of sickle cell disease to organize and network together to improve patient access to quality care.
Nice find 'TOCO' ... thanks!
This item is from 29.JUL.07
Africa’s lack of management skills harms ability to lead
(HANA) — Africa according to a Senior Research Fellow at the Biotechnology Advanced Laboratory, Abuja, Dr. Danladi Kuta, has all it takes to rule the world in science and technology, but lacks the management and leadership skills to drive this. Kuta who spoke on the possibility of how the continent “can do things with less talk” especially as it pertains to socio-economic development, science and technology, said that Africa has lots of “powerful” people who are pre-occupied with developing innovative scientific solutions to help mankind.
But noted, that they need to develop management and leadership skills to carry these innovations to the next level. He pointed out that Africa has innovative ideas and some are already being discussed and implemented. He cited an example with the anti-sickling drug, NICOSAN, which he described as a phyto-drug made from a combination of local herbs by Nigerian scientists. “And it’s currently being commercially produced in the form of capsules in Nigeria,” Kuta said.
He lauded the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) for setting up the science and information technology for development (STI4D) discussion group. “But the message is, African scientists can do it! Management is the issue,” he said.
Kuta emphasised that Africa’s challenge in this respect is to quickly find a solution to the apparent lack of management and leadership skills at all levels. “How else can one explain why a truly big country like Nigeria, with all the abundant quality human and material resources, is still most of the time in total darkness, and there may soon be a “state of emergency on energy” in the country?” he decried.
Ndukwe concluded by stating that he believed if Africans could devote more time in discussing the challenge of effective management of available resources at all levels, the continent would be able to produce better result-oriented project managers and leaders who would efficiently exploit Africa’s available human and material resources to produce e-global resource communities.
Nice to see these two participating 'together' wonder if they went for drinks afterwards...
Dr. Robert Swift
Chariman Xechem International
XECHEM International
379 Thormall St. 08837
Edison, USA
Tel: +1 732 2050500
Fax: +1 732 2050504
Dr. Richard Hubbard
Senior Director
Pfizer External Medical Affairs
235 E42nd St. 10017
New York, USA
Tel: +1 212 733 8190
http://www.uneca.org/sciencewithafrica/content/swa-registered_participants-en.pdf
Here are some of the other addresses that may be of interest:
Dr. Ayodele Coker
Director-General/CEO
Sheda Science and Technology Complex
Federal Secretariat, Maitama
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 9 5233917
Mr. Andrew I. Jaja
Principal Administrative Officer
SHESTCO F.M.S.T.
PMB 186 Garki
Abuja, Nigeria
Ms. Cassadra Alagbaje
Pharmacist
XECHEM Pharmaceuticals
Shestco, Sheda
Abuja, Nigeria
Mr. Adetunji Okemosu
Pharmacist
XECHEM Pharmaceuticals
Shestco, Sheda
Abuja, Nigeria
Eng. Obioma C. Adiukubrown
Director
National Office for Technology Acquisition and
Promotion (NOTAD)
4, Blantyre St. Wuse II
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 803 3733949
We're not sure if she'd pull us in the right direction lol
N300m Health Scam: Iyabo Knows Fate On Monday
Chairperson Senate committee on health, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello will by next Monday know her fate wither to still be on the run or to come out of hiding, as an Abuja High Court will rull on her preliminary objection seeking to quash the charges.
Justice Salisu Garba, yesterday adjourned to May 19, 2008 (next Monday) to rule on Obasanjo-Bello series of application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter, and to quash cont 55 and 56.
Obasanjo-Bello had file a motion seeking to quash the criminal charges of alleged retention of N0 million stolen from the Federal Ministry of Health.
She is challenging the charges over her alleged involvement in the sharing of the N300 million unspent fund in the Federal Ministry of Health.
Also she is seeking an order of the court, quashing the two-count charge against her saying that the charges disclosed no prima facie case against her.
But counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a counter affidavit said Obasanjo-Bello is not properly before the court, stressing that if she wants to quash the charges, she should come to court.
According to him, the physical presence of Obasanjo-Bello, is mandatory for the consideration of her application, seeking to quash the charges.
Furthermore he urges the court to issue a barrel warrant of her, noting that investigation of the conduct of the other members of the House of Representatives and Senate committees on health, showed that Obasanjo-Bello and not other members of the health committee deliberately retained the sum of N10 million, having knowledge that same was stolen money.
He added that Obasanjo-Bello was properly notified of the fraudulent source of the N10 million given to the Senate committee on health, which went ahead to spend the money.
Stressing that Obasanjo-Bello alone is accountable for the said sum of N10 million, having been informed of the fraudulent source of the money and she chose to retain same.
If Obasanjo-Bello motion to quash the charges fail, then Justice Garba will order for her arraignment.
It would be recalled that the EFCC arrested and charged the former minister of health, Professor Adenike Grange, and 10 others to court over allegations of stealing the ministry's N300 million and declared Obasanjo-Bello wanted.
http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/product_info.php?products_id=27819
Traditional foods hold sway for painful sickle cell symptoms
Guardian. 27.4.05
Sickle-cell anaemia is a genetic disorder, but recent studies have found that eating traditional foods rich in thiocynate such as African yams, lima beans, steamed carrots, cabbage and other such whole non-chemically processed food can reduce its painful symptoms. CHKWUMA MUANYA reports.
Ifeanyi Adeleke was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS) in 1998. According to Western medicine, it is an incurable, life-threatening disease, discovered in 1910 in the United Sates.
Studies have shown that Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder. Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible. In sickle cell disease, however, haemoglobin (the chemical within red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body) is abnormal. This defect causes red blood cells to collapse into a crescent, or sickle, shape.
These abnormal blood cells are destroyed at an unusually high rate, causing a shortage of red blood cells (anaemia). In addition, they can suddenly clump together and clog up small blood vessels throughout the body. This clumping causes what is called a sickle cell crisis.
When blood vessels are blocked by sickle-shaped red blood cells, parts of the body are deprived of oxygen. This can cause severe pain and damage to the organs and tissues that are deprived.
Reported common triggers of sickle cell crisis include smoking, strain, exposure to high altitudes, fever, infection, dehydration, and the drop in oxygen or changes in air pressure that can occur during airplane travel.
Diagnosis of sickle cell disease (Hb SS) and sickle cell trait (Hb AS-a condition in which a person has one of the two genes necessary to develop sickle cell disease), according to a consultant gynaecologist at Optimal Specialist Hospital Surulere, Lagos, Dr Ugochukwu Chuwunenye, can be done through blood testing, using a technique called haemoglobin electrophoresis. Treatment, he says, involves managing the anaemia, chronic pain, and organ damage caused by sickle cell disease. "In addition, the drug hydroxyurea can reduce occurrences of sickle cell crisis. Of course, it is also important to minimise exposure to conditions or situations that can trigger sickle cell crisis."
Indeed, Ifeanyi's father and mother both have traces of sickle cell anaemia (Hb AS). Medical science claims that genetically there is a one in four chance that any child born to this couple would have anaemia.
The major treatments for this condition under the Western medical system are the administration of morphine or other pain killers, liquids for dehydration, blood transfusion, hydroxy urea, chemotherapy, antibiotics, flu shot, hepatitis B shot and, in extreme cases, bone marrow transplants.
Considering the toxicity and side effects of these treatments, most Nigerians are seeking other, less toxic methods of treatment and control, especially for children and infants!
Contrary to the view in Western science that sickle cell anaemia is mostly a black people's problem, Dr. Oji Agbai, a Nigerian researcher living in the United States, has shown that sickle cell anaemia is found in all races. On a per capita basis, it is most prevalent in Greece.
Once it was confirmed that Ifeanyi did have sickle cell anaemia, the parents consulted homeopath Osmond Ifeanyi and herbalist Godwin Ihesie. They explained to both practitioners what Ifeanyi had, and they began to treat all underlying aspects of this condition that would result in complications, like an enlarged spleen, jaundice, a lack of appetite and low haemoglobin.
They acquired the herb prickly ash bark, which has been successfully used by the Nigerian health services. This herb is commonly known as Fagara in Nigeria. Prickly ash bark has been shown to reduce the length and the frequency of the pain crises by up to 75 per cent. Ifeanyi drinks this herb as tea.
Agbai's thesis is that certain people are genetically disposed to thiocynate deficiency (a deficiency of vitamin B12-- a necessary component to health blood cells). This deficiency causes blood cells to "sickle," and is the root cause of sickle cell anaemia and its resulting complications. But once this thiocynate was present in sufficient quantity in the blood system, there is an immediate unsickling of the blood cells and a consequent abatement of the complications that may arise.
Agbai had worked with the Nigerian health services as a nurse. In that capacity he had observed the relative mildness of the symptoms of sickle cell anaemia as compared with what he was later to see in the United States. His findings are that diets rich in nutritional thiocynate protected against sickle cell anaemia. This explained its mildness and rarity in many parts of Africa, Jamaica and elsewhere in the world where staple foods such as yams, cassava and lima pea are naturally rich in thiocynate.
Agbai says the frequency and severity of sickle cell anaemia in America are expressions of the nutritional poverty of American staple food, especially regarding thiocynate. Once people with sickle cell anaemia adopted a diet rich in thiocynate-- African yams, lima beans, steamed carrots, cabbage and other such whole non-chemically processed food-- they experience a normally healthy life, free from the pains of that anaemia's complication and at the same time being spared the debilitating treatment used in the Western medical system to "combat" this condition.
Carrots are rich in thiocynate so Ifeanyi drinks carrot and beet juice daily. He enjoys curried lentils and rice, so he eats that for dinner about three times a week. "I am gradually trying gradually trying to introduce Ifeanyi to as many foods as he will try that are rich in thiocynate. Some he loves, some he would not eat. I restrict the amount of the non-traditional foods, especially junk foods, soft drinks and whatever has no nutritional value", says Ifeanyi's mother.
She continued: "Usually when I take Ifeanyi out I bring food with us because I find that he either would not eat or he wants foods that he should not have. I bake treats from time to time, but again I focus on thiocynate-rich ingredients. He will eat a banana cake or bead but not a buckwheat cake. He will eat combined buckwheat and oatmeal porridge but not buckwheat porridge alone.
"Because Ifeanyi does not eat the daily required level of thiocynate between 500-1000 mg, I have purchased a supplement from Dr. Agbai, which he takes daily. I explained to him why he has to eat the way he does and drink the herb teas. Although he is only two years old, he understands. As he grows older I will teach him how to cook his meals and I will give him the books with all the necessary information about his health for him to read.
"Since Ifeanyi started his treatment, he has increased noticeably in weight and height, contrary to the prognosis of Western medical science that his growth and weight rate will be stunted because of his blood type. Though we realise there may not be a way to change human blood genotypes, we are very confident that Ifeanyi will have a bountiful and healthy life.
"The times he has gone for routine check ups, the hospital staff including the doctors, have been impressed with Ifeanyi's growth rate and energy level, which is above the average two-year-old's. Many of the hospital staff who have observed children with sickle cell anaemia brought to the hospital over the years have confessed to me privately that Ifeanyi is unlike other "sickle cell patients" they have known. Indeed, many such children are admitted for health complications at least once every two to three months. Ifeanyi has never been admitted in the hospital.
"Ifeanyi now has a healthy appetite, the jaundice which used to plague him in the past is effectively controlled with Dr. Agbai's thiocynate solution. He almost never gets sick, save for the occasional cold in winter time. He has had only two very mild pain crises in the past year, and those were gone as soon as they came. Since we put him on Dr. Agbai's thiocynate solution and gave him the prickly ash bark tree daily, he has not had any crisis.
"Everyone who has dealt with sickle cell anaemia clinically is truly impressed with his progress. For myself, I can only be thankful that I do not have to overload my son's system with all manner of toxic chemicals that are routinely prescribed in the hospitals for managing this condition. I am also thankful for Ifeanyi's life and health which are stronger every day. I have become more appreciative of the powers of herbs, balanced nutrition, healthy living and a positive frame of mind that will not succumb to fear and misinformation."
This, according to Agbai is by no means a complete list of foods that aid in the treatment of sickle cell disease: African yam; alfalfa sprouts; apricot; bamboo shoot; banana; bitter almond; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; buckwheat; buffalo berry; cabbage; carrot; cassava; cauliflower; cherry; chickpea; cloudberry; elderberry; flaxseed; kohlrabi; lentils; lima bean; macadamia nuts; millet; mustard green; peaches; plantain; plums; radish sprouts; raspberry; red clover; rutabaga; salmonberry; sorghum; strawberry; and turnips.
Ifeanyi is now seven years old and is doing well. The mother has been continuing his nutritional and herbal treatments. She recently started the African Children's Holistic Health Foundation to provide support for others afflicted with sickle cell anaemia.
There is some evidence that people with sickle cell disease are more likely than others to be deficient in the mineral zinc. Zinc supplementation at nutritional doses has been suggested for children with sickle cell disease.
In a placebo-controlled study, 42 children (ages four to 10) with sickle cell disease were given either zinc supplements (10 mg of zinc daily) or placebo for a period of one year. Results showed that by the end of the study, the participants given zinc showed enhanced growth compared to those given placebo. Curiously, researchers did not find any solid connection between the severity of zinc deficiency and the extent of response to treatment.
Zinc is thought to have a stabilising effect on the cell membrane of red blood cells in people with sickle cell disease. For this reason, it has been tried as an aid for preventing sickle cell crisis. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 145 people with sickle cell disease conducted in India, participants received either placebo or about 50 mg of zinc three times daily. During 18 months of treatment, the zinc-treated subjects had an average of 2.5 crises, compared to 5.3 for the placebo group. However, zinc did not seem to reduce the severity of a crisis, as measured by the number of days spent in the hospital for each crisis.
Sickle cell disease according to some studies can also cause skin ulcers (non-healing sores). In a 12-week, placebo-controlled trial, use of zinc at 88 mg three times per day for 12 weeks enhanced the rate of ulcer healing.
Commenting on the study, Chukwunenye says "the high dosages of zinc used in the last two studies can cause dangerous toxicity, and should be taken-if at all-only under the supervision of a doctor. The nutritional dose described in the first study, however, is safe."
Meanwhile, a one-year-long, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 82 people with sickle cell disease tested a combination herbal treatment made from plants indigenous to Nigeria. The results indicate that use of the herbal mixture reduced the incidence of sickle cell crisis.
A very small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found intriguing evidence that fish oil may reduce the frequency of painful sickle cell episodes, possibly by reducing the tendency of the blood to clot.
Numerous other herbs and supplements have been suggested for people with sickle cell disease, including alpha-linolenic acid, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q, folate, garlic, green tea, lipoic acid, magnesium, OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins), suma, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but as yet the supporting evidence for these treatments remains far too preliminary to be relied upon at all.5-27
A cell study at the Philadelphia Biomedical Research Institute, King of Prussia, Penn., tested the effects of green tea extract and aged garlic extract on dehydration of sickle cells. Such dehydration of the sickle cells further exacerbates damage to the cells and may increase clotting. Epigallocatechin gallate, a major antioxidant component of green tea extract, almost completely inhibited sickle-cell dehydration. The garlic extract reduced dehydration by 30 percent.
People with sickle-cell anaemia have elevated blood levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for coronary artery disease. In one study, conducted at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, this abnormal elevation persisted even after supplementation with 1,000 mcg of folic acid daily.
In a separate study, Professor Tay S. Kennedy, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, measured folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in 70 sickle-cell patients, ranging in age from infancy to 19 years old. More than half of them did not consume enough folic acid from food and, despite daily supplementation of 1,000 mcg folic acid daily, 15 percent had low blood levels of the vitamin. Although most of the subjects had normal blood levels of vitamin B12, both B12 and folic acid levels declined with the subjects' age. Such findings suggest that people with sickle-cell anaemia need considerable folic acid.
In a small clinical trial conducted at the Philadelphia Biomedical Research Institute, Professor S. Tsuyoshi Ohnishi, found that a combination of several high-potency supplements greatly reduced symptoms of sickle-cell anaemia. Over six months, Ohnishi asked 10 patients to take six grams of vitamin C, 1,200 IU of vitamin E, 1,000 mcg of folic acid and six grams of aged garlic extract daily. Meanwhile, the subjects' twins took only folic acid. People taking the multiple supplements had only one-third the number of painful sickle-cell episodes, compared with the other group.
"An interesting observation was that most of the patients in the supplement group felt much more energetic after they had started the regimen," Ohnishi wrote in the journal Nutrition.
In a related laboratory study, Ohnishi found that S-allyl cysteine (found in aged garlic extracts), arginine, Pycnogenol, green tea extract, black tea extract, and vitamin E improved membrane integrity in sickle cells. Ginseng, ginkgo, and coenzyme Q10 also helped, but not to the same degree.
Scientists unanimously agree that sickle-cell anaemia and sickle-cell trait is genetic disorders and cannot be "cured" in the conventional sense. However, these recent studies clearly demonstrate that antioxidants and other supplements can compensate for some of the inborn defects of sickle-cell anaemia. For people with this disease, it means healthier red blood cells, less anaemia and pain, and other improvements in health.
http://www.yorubareligion.org/news/n282.html
At this link our writer Chukwuma Muanya discloses essentially that he supports Ciklavit...
Studies endorse eight Nigerian plants for management of sickle cell (Rubrik: healing) - Administrator - 2006-11-24 22:39 Artikel-Nr.: 338
http://www.yorubareligion.org/_con/_rubric/detail.php?rubric=healing&nr=338
Nice DDDD, same writer says...
Many western drugs come from herbs used by traditional healers
http://www.yorubareligion.org/activiti/heal/traditional2_heal.html
Herbal remedies 'do work
http://www.yorubareligion.org/activiti/heal/herbal_heal.html
Herbal routes to healthy kidneys
Herbal routes to avoiding heart disease
Tinubu Wants Traditional, Orthodox Medicines Integrated
etc etc...
That's just it, the former prez of Nigeria did fund this completion to the tune of N70M about 1.5 yrs ago... unless he never got the money... which is of course quite possible imo
im telling you this, the guy is sour that his 'dream clinic' didn't get funded and he has his hand out to XeChem ...... of this i am sure!
Cannot say that this is good news for Nicosan here... 'spose it explains why we are where we are today. Obvious the 'fight' between the NG and SCDFN is still 'on' full force.
Wonder who else is on this panel?
The panel, made up of various specialists with demonstrable interest and expertise in sickle cell disorder, is headed by SCFN chairman, Prof. Olufemi Akinyanju.
Would you post the link pls? tia
Funny about those lines in bold... I have been thinking exactly that during the last few weeks, having watched various currencies and how they have reacted to the USD and noting the awareness of the NFG re the MDG's, Malaria and TM, and also the status and requirements of the electrial infrastructure. Reality is that We are the Third World and they are of the First World. imo
Fox, I do believe that specific trial was renamed as the Phase IIb trial we know due to the low number of participants... imo
Interesting... looks like a carry-over from the 400million Naira allocation from the 2007 budget that trans (Jim) found over a year ago... interesting also in that it forms part of the Shestco budget allowance. Seems the XPNL/Sheda connection is very tight imo.
In previous DD (3 or 4 yrs ago) we did come across a completed phase 3, however it was deemed not 'valid' due to the low number of participants as I recall. I have searched for this reference in the past year and am no longer able to find it - possibly for just that reason imo.
Nice Post Fox, Thank You.
Seems XKEM now has a double bottom and the TSX now has a tripple top... interesting time coming for both imo.
Nice to see this NGO is aware of Nicosan (close to the source) and is providing the drug to sufferers.
"A wonder drug "NICOSAN" which was discovered from herbal remedies and manufactured in NIGERIA for the treatment of sickle cell disease. NICOSAN was produced by an American pharmaceutical company with a trade mark NICOSANA. NICOSAN has been authorised to be used in for sickle cell disease in Nigeria but still awaiting market authorisation in Europe and America."
(Wondering why the words used are 'was produced...' and 'NicosanA'. )
-------------
Elewura Sickle Cell Centre is an organisation that caters for sickle cell patients who can not afford to pay for their drugs. Aside from assisting patients with drugs, the organisation puts in place sensitisation programmes to enlighten people about the sickle cell anaemia, while also providing pre-marital counselling to intending couples.
Recently, members of the organisation visited the Nigerian Tribune, where they spoke on the NGOs activities and the reasons for taking up the project.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Engineer AbdulJelyl Karheem explained that as a young graduate, he had always thought of ways he could impact on the society, especially the less-privileged.
“What came to my mind then was in the teachings of the Holy Quran which says: if you save a life, you have saved the lives of the entire universe, and if otherwise, then you have killed the entire universe.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/05032008/features.html
Great Work Fox! That is an uplifting find and post.
wEaReLeGiOn - give it a rest already...
Certainly it seems that Swift and Co. have shown enough smarts to pay themselves, and pay themselves well while they do whatever it is they do. Heck, by now they may even have given themselves that raise - after all, Xechem has shown itself to be an invisible company and only the insiders know what the status is of Nicosan. Nicosan does not seem as invisible as some other herbal extracts in Nigeria, but the way you word your post, it does appear rather dismal for the herbal extract. Invisible money changing hands? Yeah, mine is rather invisible, mostly so to me to be sure.
Interesting how it appears to have been so easy for Swift and Co. to take the potential out of what seemed a promising drug, company, and ability to help millions and trash it, or at least make it appear so the the shareholders. I suppose it happens once a week in some similar fashion with OTC and Pink traded companies. A few are benefitting while many are loosing. Is it all as it appears? This chapter is still being written and will probably be published later this summer imo.
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Indeed! ... was thinking that perhaps our Raven might do the slamdunk in the comments section there
There is also Dioscovite...
Dioscovite has been registered by the NAFDAC at Lagos for distribution in Nigeria. As the most effective and safe sickle cell remedy in the world, Dioscovite also prevents stroke, painful suffering and the premature death of millions of sickle cell and stroke victims. Urgent distribution of Dioscovite is critical, as sickle cell anemia is an international medical emergency that victimizes hundreds of thousands and paralyzes many with stroke.
http://www.dioscovite1.com/index.html
Health commissioner cautions on sickle cell
By Super Admin
Published Today
Newsday Weekly Rating: Unrated
By Shehu Ibrahim and Iliyasu Musa
04/30/2008 10:03 AM
Commissioner of Health in Nasarawa State, Mallam Abubakar Sarki Dahiru has advised the public to be conscious in picking their life partners, as a way of preventing and controlling the rising cases of sickle cell anemia among Nigerians.
The Commissioner spoke with Nigerian Newsday at the official flagging off of the 1st Nasarawa state sickle cell week organized by the ministry of health in collaboration with the Maidunama sickle cell foundation held at Ibrahim Abacha Youth Centre, Lafia.
He stressed the need for awareness on the dangers of overlooking genotype screening to ensure that the two risk groups did not come together so to avoid having sickle cell children.
Mallam Dahiru disclosed that Nasarawa state government would embark on free genotype testing and was making arrangements to get more testing machines for distribution to the rural areas, and hoped to collaborate with NGOs such as the Maidunama Foundation to awareness campaign.
He then stated that Nasarawa state government would acquire N9.3m worth of drugs to combat sickle cell anemia, and would be distributed free to local governments and development areas.
He commended the founder of Maidunama sickle cell Foundation, Ms Rabi Maidunama, for focusing on one of the dreaded diseases and called on others to contribute to the health section.
The commissioner also appealed to other spirited individuals to invest in non communicable disease like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that are also ravaging the people.
The foundation proprietor, Ms Rabi Maidunama said the NGO was created for the less privileged that suffer from the disease to provide help and counseling as well as create awareness on the danger of sickle cell anemia and assured sufferers of the disease that it could be managed.
She said the foundation was in memory of her late father who did not get tired of her, in spite of all the pains and troubles she must have put him through while growing up. She called on the state government to partner with corporate bodies and individuals to assist the foundation.
Ms Rabi’s mother, Hajya Maimuna Maidunama who was on hand to support her daughter, called on parents of sickle cell children to be very patient, as only knowledge and awareness would greatly reduce the spread of the disease. She advised parents to test their children, recalling how hectic it could be handling sickle cell children.
She then called on states and local governments to come to the aid of the sufferers of the disease as well as their parents.
Mr. Ade Ajibade, admin officer of Aja sounds, an educative entertainment outfit described the setting up of an NGO of this nature as unique as it would create awareness among people who would want to know their genotype as well as blood group. He said would awareness create understanding in handling the disease for the future and called on lawmakers to start thinking of making laws that would greatly impact on the health sector.
http://www.nasarawastate.org/articles/100/1/Health-commissioner-cautions-on-sickle-cell/Page1.html
Allocate 15 Percent of Budget to Health, African Govts Told
This Day (Lagos)
29 April 2008
Abimbola Akosile
Lagos
African governments have been called upon to make good their pledge to allocate fifteen per cent of their national budgets to addressing health issues in their respective countries; in a bid to help boost development all over the continent.
Above call was made over the weekend by over 140 African and global organisations, led by the African Public Health Alliance (APHA) 15% Now Campaign; on the 7th anniversary of the African Union (AU) 15% Health Commitment, made in April 26, 2001 in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city.
The health coalition, which issued a statement and communiqué in Abuja on Sunday, said African Heads of State and Government must not revise or further delay implementation of AU Abuja April 2001 15% Health Commitment.
In a campaign led Nobel Prize Winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is APHA 15% Now Campaign Chairman, African leaders and Finance Ministers were urged to restate their fifteen per cent commitment at the next AU Summit in Egypt.
The coalition, whose members met recently in a conference in Abuja, lamented that a loss of over 8 million African lives annually to preventable, treatable or manageable health conditions is equal to 43 transatlantic jets with 500 passengers each crashing every single day.
------------------
African Scientists Close to Malaria Vaccine
04.30.2008
Fct
African research scientists are close to discovering ``a safe and effective malaria vaccine,'' according to a WHO consultant in Accra.
``We are closer than ever before to having a safe and effective malaria vaccine that will make a positive impact on the economy and the capacity of our health care system,'' Dr Daniel Ansong of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana, told a forum to mark World Malaria Day.
Speaking on the topic ``The search for malaria vaccine , where are we now?'', Ansong said the research on the vaccine in Ghana and other African countries was ``progressing well''.He said the vaccine was being tried in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Mozambique.Some two million people die of malaria each year, according to the WHO.
Ansong said the vaccine would be a key component of the fight against malaria which kills about one million children annually. He pointed out that vaccines were playing an important role in the prevention of diseases such as tuberculosis, polio and tetanus.
The scientist said results from the Mozambique trials showed a 49 per cent efficacy against severe malaria for 18 months in children between one and four years.
He said some 160,000 children were expected to be recruited across Africa for the third phase of the trial to determine the safety of the vaccine on a larger scale.``We can no longer fold our arms and accept the burden it (malaria) imposes,'' Ansong said.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=110147
Study finds new aspect of sickle cell
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 29 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have found sickle cell patients' blood contains clumps, or aggregates, of red and white blood cells that might contribute to the disease.
It's been long known that patients with sickle cell disease have malformed, "sickle-shaped" red blood cells that can cause sudden painful episodes when they block small blood vessels.
Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have shown blood from sickle cell patients also contains clumps of red and white blood cells.
The scientists said their finding marks the first time aggregates made up of red blood cells and white blood cells have been found in whole blood from sickle cell patients. The study also shows how the red and white blood cells adhere to one another.
"If the blockages are caused by these chunks of aggregates that are circulating in the blood, and we know how the aggregates are sticking together, we potentially could design drugs to disrupt the aggregates so that they pass through the blood vessel more freely," Assistant Professor Julia Brittain said.
The study was published on-line April 18 in the British Journal of Hematology.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2008/04/29/upi_newstrack_health_and_science_news/4368/
This goes a long way to explaining the difficulties XPNL has in marketing Nicosan imo.
NIGERIA: Shoddy private health centres closed down
LAGOS, 29 April 2008 (IRIN) - The Lagos State government has shut down 184 private hospitals, clinics and laboratories for failing to meet basic standards of hygiene and staff training in a move observers say is a much-needed push to improve the regulation of the state’s healthcare system.
“Corruption, mismanagement and poor leadership are the main problems of the health system in Nigeria,” said independent health consultant, Dr Tarry Asoka. “These have been recognized by the Lagos State government which is… tackling these issues through a reform process of which regulating the private sector is a key initiative.”
The private facilities, which hold an estimated 1,000 hospital beds and represent 7 percent of the all the 2,629 health facilities monitored by government officials in Lagos State, were shut down between March 2007 and March 2008, according to Lagos State health commissioner Dr Jide Idris.
“Some 60 percent of the facilities surveyed were found to be substandard,” Idris said.
According to the government, patients from the closed facilities were transferred or referred to other hospitals and health centres nearby.
Eight private mortuaries in the state were also found to be providing inadequate services, the state commissioner added.
Asoka, the consultant, said that the problem for the over 10 million residents of the state is not the quantity of health facilities but their quality. “Lagos is well supplied by health facilities, therefore physical access is not a barrier,” he said.
But Dr Bodet Tawak, a medical officer in charge of a private clinic, said people in Lagos State depend increasingly on private clinics due to a decline in the standards of the public health system.
“The influx of people to my clinic has increased recently as some of the patients are not getting the attention they need from government hospitals,” he said.
The Lagos state government says it has developed a four-year infrastructure development plan for secondary health care.
“We are going to construct five 100-bed maternal and child health complexes [in the grounds of already existing hospitals],” Idris pledged.
The Lagos health commissioner said five general hospitals had already been rehabilitated.
In another survey, the Drug Quality Control Laboratory analysed 813 samples of drugs and related products in 258 private and public pharmacies, and found that 15 percent of them were defective.
fm/nr/dh
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=77981
FIRST MEETING OF THE
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON
THE PHARMACEUTICAL
MANUFACTURING PLAN FOR AFRICA
24-26 OCTOBER 2007
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
REPORT
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The AU Ministers of Health adopted a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa which was developed in line with the AU Heads of State and Government decision that was taken in Abuja in January 2005. The overall aim of this Plan is to harmonize local production of the much needed generic medicines in Africa while ensuring economic and technical viability. The plan was endorsed by the AU Heads of State and Government during the July 2007 summit in Accra, Ghana. As a way forward, the AU Ministers of Health established a Technical Committee which was mandated to study detailed implications of local production and come up with a concrete plan for the second Phase. The members of this committee are: North Africa (Egypt and Libya), West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal), Central Africa (Burundi, Cameroon and Gabon), East Africa (Kenya and Ethiopia) and Southern Africa (South Africa and Angola).
2. The First Meeting of the Technical Committee on the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa was held from October 24-26, 2007 at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objective of the meeting was to elaborate Phase II Plan of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa.
12. With respect to production capacity, the presenter observed that of the 46 countries in the WHO AFRO Region, 37 have local production although only one has limited primary production which means that local production in Africa relies on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients.
6. Financing
49. The Committee agreed that the financing cluster which will be co-ordinated by Nigeria, should consider financing of actual pharmaceutical production- setting up capacity to manufacture i.e. manufacturing plant and equipments, plant expansion or improvement/upgrading and purchasing of medicines- availability of funds to purchase: National purchasing and investment arrangements by public and private sector, Regional purchasing arrangements, International purchasing arrangements. Other issues:
· The aspect of donor funding architecture and their implications- budget support; what commitments?
· Changing traditional donor funding to include infrastructure issues in the package.
· Funding of general infrastructure- electricity, water, roads etc.
· Funding of R&D
· Funding of capacity building- including the training and retention of human resource
· Other models of financing should be considered.
This is a comprehensive document with only a small portion sampled above. Material is in a Word document.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2007/october/sa/Pharmaceutical/DOCS/REPORT.doc
Actually I was not asking who you talked with, but rather whether we know who you talked with... regardless of this, we do appreciate your input and sharing - it reveals a fresh perspective imo.
uuhhh don't like that version... do we know who you talked with?
previous current production 50k x3 = 150k now... ??? what do you mean 1/3?
... glad that other post I made earlier worked out
My apologies, as of course we are all aware of what transpired with Dr. Pandey. I posted this simply to indicate that In-PharmaTechnologist.com had actually noted the 'ousting' and reported this information. It seemed significant to me that this outfit reported on our small, very small & insignificant XeChem. I should have noted this opinion in my post.
In-PharmaTechnologist.com is a daily online news service available as a free-access website and provides daily and weekly newsletters to subscribers.
The service seeks out news stories and data of value to decision-makers in pharmaceutical technology.
The In-PharmaTechnologist.com team is led by award-winning journalists. They scan all available scientific, technical and industry sources and search out previously unpublished material, primary data and expert opinions in all areas of significance to the target audience.
http://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/about/
Another good find 'TOCO' - Thanks. This to me is the first mention of 3% of the 7.5% royalty going to the Traditional Healer.
That said, Nigeria and the government run NIPRD has scored some successes in R&D and tackling neglected diseases, albeit through the use of local traditional medicine practices. Nigeria is home to a significant amount of traditional knowledge and herbal medicine and the recent development of NIPRISAN (derived from piper guineenses seeds and pterocarpus osun stem) as a therapy for sickle cell disorder (SCD) has received good reviews. Like most developments coming out of public institutions, in order to ramp up investment, manufacturing and distribution, the patents on NIPRISAN were licensed to the US based Indian company Xechem Chemicals with a royalty of 7.5% (3% of which goes to the local medicine practitioner that alerted NIPRD of the plants healing qualities for SCD). NIPRD is now working on using traditional medicine practices to find a suitable therapy for malaria. However, the licensing of local knowledge to foreign companies is not without its problems and is something Nigeria is seeking to tackle.
In other news, Ramesh Pandey, the chairman, CEO and founder of small biologics firm Xechem has recently been outsed by its board of directors and temporarily replaced by board member Robert Swift.
No reason was given for his replacement, although the firm said he will still continue to serve on the company's board of directors in an advisory role.
However, at the same time Xechem also announced a cost-cutting plan involving the closure of its current New Jersey headquarters and a relocation to cheaper facilities.
Part of this plan also involves an increased focus on its Nigerian operations, where the firm is currently planning to commercially produce its sickle cell disease drug, approved there under the name Nicosan, and in the US and Europe as Hemoxin, although it is not yet on the market.
http://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/news/ng.asp?id=78890-amgen-biocryst-pharmaceuticals-appointed-role
The Following Companies have offered final/summer/project placements to the students of the institute
Xechem Pharma Nigeria Ltd.
http://prestigegwl.org/default1.asp
http://prestigegwl.org/main/company.htm
Great Find 'rubco' , Thanks! It is significant imo. It lends a bit of creedence to the process change that supposedly caused some disruption in quality for a while.
Anyone note the THC formulation available (for the Netherlands only)... (lol)
Well, of course there was this from 2004 that we have discussed here previously...
Copy of this letter was sent to the EFCC
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
Chairman,
Economic & Financial Crime Commission
15 A Awolowo Road,
Ikoyi, Lagos
Nigeria
Dear Mallam. Ribadu:
PETITION AGAINST OTUNBA GBENGA DANIEL, THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE
It is with utmost pleasure that I am submitting this petition against the smooth operator unmeritoriously called Governor in Ogun State. An operator who thinks the Almighty Allah has created someone whose books He (Allah) cannot balance. The alleged improprieties are listed below under separate captions for your review and immediate action for the sake of posterity, the dignity of the black race, sanctity of Nigeria in general and Ogun State in particular:
Economic and Financial Crime against XeChem International Incorporated
On Monday, August 23, 2004, the Punch newspaper reported in an article written by Yemi Giwa and titled “Ögun, US firm to produce sickle cell drugs.” The article states that “the Ogun State Government has concluded plans to start the production of sickle cell drugs at its firm, Gateway Pharmaceutical Company, Ikangba, Ijebu-Ode. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planning and Development, Ms. Yosola Akinbi gave an indication to this effect on Saturday in Abeokuta. She said the state government had signed an agreement with a US-based pharmaceutical company, Xechem International Incorporated, to produce sickle cell drugs utilizing the facilities of the Gateway Pharmaceutical Company.” (See Exhibit 1).
Gbenga Daniel visited the New Jersey office of the company, met with Ramsy C. Pandey, Ph.D., the President of the Company at its’ headquarters. That led to Dr. Pandey’s visit to Nigeria. Mr. Daniel collected a total amount of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) from the company as an advance fee, and up till today there is no progress thus leaving the company in the cold. Gbenga Daniel has not spoken with the company’s officials regarding its fate since he has collected the money, and an unfruitful noise had been made in the press to announce that a sickle cell company is on the way to Ijebu- Ode.
Mallam Ribadu, in my humble view, an advance fee fraud has undoubtedly been committed, which in fact is capable of damaging the image of Nigeria. Since your Commission goes after the “yahoo-yahoo” governed, this disgrace of Nigeria by Gbenga Daniel in a manner that constitutes economic and financial crime needs to be investigated to cause this “yahoo-yahoo” governor to face the wrath of the law. Dr. Pandey’s address is:
President of Xechem International, Inc.
New Brunswick Technology Center
100 Jersey Avenue, Building B-310,
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Of course, it is pertinent to mention here that, Dr. Pandey later met with President Olusegun Obasanjo who facilitated the establishment of XeChem Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited in Science Village, Sheda, Abuja. I hope he would not entertain any fear in speaking out to confirm this true fact. As you may be aware, Dele Arojo, a contestant against Daniel, who would have gotten the
ticket of the PDP in Ogun State, was brutally murdered on the street of Lagos before the 2003 elections. Alhaji Animashaun (alias Age), a friend turned opponent of Daniel was brutally murdered in Sagamu. The show of violence where Gbenga Daniel surrounded himself with thugs carrying guns, cutlasses in the presence of police in Ake palace, Abeokuta, after Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun colluded in Abeokuta imposed fear on people to dare say anything against Daniel in Ogun State. Further, such act, coupled with the fact Daniel has never denounced any attack on opposition, provides a catalyst for fear of lives to many people who would have spoken against him. The fact that my house has been attacked twice by his thugs with my colleagues injured with cutlasses and broken bottles and the policemen attached to my house have engaged in a shoot out with some of his thugs, cows people from confronting the evil in Ogun State. Even though this is not a matter for your commission, I attach evidence of this herewith. (See Exhibit 2).
http://www.nigeriancp.net/petitionEFCC.html
http://www.nigeriancp.net/petition_To_EFCC.pdf
Thanks LO. Any idea of the date-stamp on this item?