©2022 DopeReporters. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by multiplatforms
By Akaiso Eyo-Akaiso, Uyo.
Not fewer than two hundred people have been treated free of charge of their various ailments courtesy of Dr. Kenneth Ebong Foundation. The free medical service carried out under the auspices of Gilead medical outreach of Living Faith Church, took place over the weekend at Living Faith Church, Ekput, Ibiono Ibom Local government.
Being the second in the series, the 2024 edition of the free medical outreach like the 2024 March edition, started with praise and worship service on the opening day which was Friday at the Ekput branch of the Living Faith Church built and donated by the MD/CEO of POTENT GROUP, Dr. Kenneth Utibe Ebong.
As early as 9am in the morning of the second day people started to throng the venue for the free medical intervention in their clusters to access the treatment. All that was required was to take a seat under the canopies that were mounted to shed the beneficiaries from the scourging sun. After which tags were given based on first come first served basis, awaiting the arrival of the medical team led by Dr. Charles Mbong.
Upon the arrival of the medical team in company of the arrowhead of the foundation, Dr. Kenneth Ebong the auxiliary hands who had been on ground earlier, began the registration serially and doctors started consulting immediately without any hitch.
It could be recalled, compared with what obtained in the March 2024 edition which was fraught with a bit of teething challenges, there was a remarkable improvement in that this December 2024 edition as everything went on seamlessly till a little after 4pm fixed for closing.
As usual the December 2024 medical outreach covered three days which rounded off on Sunday with distribution of free food items such as rice Yam and indomie noodles to the most vulnerable of the society, including widows and children, especially the orphans. The free medical service covered the basics, vitals, administration of drugs, eye test and provision of lenses as some deteriorated cases were referred to University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo for further attention.
So many beneficiaries poured encomiums and prayers on the family of the sponsor of the great initiative, but the one that was quite outstanding was that of the Headmistress of a primary school, Mrs Bassey Edem Akwa who described the gesture as rare, maintaining that there are so many people in the community who are even richer but don’t have the milk of human kindness to do what the sponsor has done.
She extended appreciation to the doctors and others for the high class of professionalism exhibited by the medical team, according to her, apart from the care and passion displayed by the doctors, the drugs are also genuinely sourced.
Reacting to the outpour of encomiums by the beneficiaries, the sponsor, Dr. Kenneth Ebong who had expended about N3.5m to host the free medical and Food distribution, said passion to provide succour to the less privileged by sharing the little he has in the spirit of the season, is his motivation, not because he is so rich as might be misconstrued.
“The December 2024 edition of free medical outreach stated with praise and worship on the opening day which was Friday. Today Saturday is the free medical which covers the vitals, administration of drugs, eye test and provision of lenses which was not included in the March edition.
“This year is better than that of last March 2024 and in the same vein the one of next year will be better. On Sunday we will share free food such as rice, Yam and indomie noodles to the widows in the spirit of love which the season represents,” he explained.
He used the opportunity to call on other well to do individuals from Akwa Ibom, Ekput village and its environ to join hands with him to put smile on the faces of the less privileged to make the world a better place to live.
Egbin Power has once again demonstrated its commitment to ensuring healthy lives and well-being of its communities through its 7th Annual Medical Outreach, aligning with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) – Good Health and Well-being.
The three-day medical outreach, which was organised in partnership with Livewell Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation, offered a range of free medical services including cardiovascular, arthritis, dental, eye-check, diabetes tests, malaria treatment, hepatitis screening, and blood pressure examination for residents in its host communities – Egbin, Ijede, and Ipakan, attracting over three thousand people, including children, adults and nursing mothers.
Eye-glasses, dental kits, and medications were administered at no cost to the residents after careful examination by qualified medical practitioners.
Speaking on the programme, Felix Ofulue, Head of Corporate Communications and Branding, emphasised the company’s commitment to the health and well-being of its host communities.
“At Egbin Power, we recognise that the health and well-being of our host communities is crucial to our success. This medical outreach programme is one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to giving back to our host communities. It is also in alignment with our commitment to SDG 3 and we believe that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right, and we will continue to work towards making it a reality for all,” he said.
The Managing Director of Livewell Initiative, Dr. Bisi Bright, praised the partnership between Egbin Power and her organisation. “We are proud to partner with Egbin Power on this medical outreach programme. Together, we are making a positive difference in the lives of the people in these communities.”
Also speaking at the event, the Aro of Egbin Kingdom, High Chief Olayemi Olukunga commended Egbin Power for its consistent support for the community. “We are grateful to Egbin Power for their kindness and generosity. This medical outreach programme has become an annual tradition that we look forward to, and we appreciate the positive impact it has on our community.”
The medical outreach has significantly impacted the lives of residents in Egbin Power’s host communities. Mrs Wasilat Ogundipe, a resident of Egbin Community, expressed her gratitude to the Company for the initiative, stating that “it affords us timely access to free medical examinations, enabling our children, parents and vulnerable community members to address their health concerns.”
Agbabiaka Muftau, Community Liaison Officer (CLO) of Ijede Community, praised Egbin Power’s commitment to healthcare, saying: “This medical outreach has been very impactful over the years. We appreciate Egbin Power’s efforts to improve our health and well-being.”
Alhaji Bello Monsuru, a resident of Ipakan Community, echoed this sentiment, saying: “We have been enjoying this medical outreach for many years, and we want Egbin Power to continue this wonderful initiative because it affords access to good healthcare which we could have spent a huge amount on.”
The medical outreach programme is part of Egbin Power’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, aimed at promoting the health, education, and economic empowerment of its host communities. The company has invested significantly in various community development projects over the years.
By prioritising SDG 3 which focuses on good health and well-being for all, the company is not only fulfilling its corporate social responsibility but also making a difference in the lives of its host communities. Through initiatives like these, Egbin Power continues to solidify its position as a responsible corporate citizen and a catalyst for positive change.
“I’m back!” Jamie Foxx yells through tears at the start of his new Netflix comedy special What Had Happened Was…
That’s not exactly a novel opening from someone whose last comedy special was over two decades ago (2002’s musical special I Might Need Security), but coming from Foxx, the statement is loaded. In April 2023, he became a fixation of the celebrity conspiracy rumor mill when he was hospitalized for a “medical complication” while filming his Netflix movie Back in Action in Atlanta. Depending on who you talked to over the last year, the reason was anything from near death to actual death to an unsuccessful hit from someone trying to keep him quiet. In the special, he reveals for the first time what actually took place: he suffered from a stroke.
If there was any worry that What Had Happened Was… was going to be a Trojan horse of a title, enticing us with the promise of the whole story before baiting and switching us in favor of observational comedy about seatbelts, it’s dispelled instantly. The special kicks off with a carousel of news blasts and conspiracy videos from the time of his hospitalization before Foxx triumphantly walks on stage and proclaims: “I’m happy to be alive.”
“You have no idea how good it feels, Atlanta!” he says. “I was fighting for my life but I’m here in front of you.” The special, which is equal parts explainer, stand-up routine, and worship session, is Foxx’s love letter to Atlanta, the city he says saved his life.
For months in 2023, the mystery around Foxx’s illness hit a fever pitch, with online blogs, right-wing conspiracy theorists, and pop-culture engagement farmers all weighing in. All this despite his daughter Corinne, who opens up the special with an introduction to her dad, confirming that he was recovering well. Some thought his condition was much worse than they’d been led to believe, with rumors that he was in a coma or suffering from massive disabling effects. Others went a step further and claimed he’d actually died and that the family was keeping the news secret from the public. Anti-vax campaigners latched onto the news and claimed his condition was the effect of the Covid vaccine. And another particularly scandalous, unfounded theory that Foxx had been poisoned by Sean “Diddy” Combs after he was allegedly caught filming Combs’ illicit behavior (Combs is currently facing charges of sex trafficking) quickly gained steam.
“The internet said Puffy tried to kill me. Hell no, I left those parties early. Something don’t look right, it’s slippery in here,” he jokes, in the first but definitely not the last jab at P Diddy in his routine.
Throughout the hour-long set, Foxx is searingly honest about the last year of his life. Until this point, he and his family had kept the details of his condition close, revealing only small tidbits. In July 2023, Foxx first broke his silence, taking to Instagram to tell his followers, “I know a lot of people were waiting or wanting to hear updates, but to be honest with you, I just didn’t want you to see me like that.” He went on to say, “I didn’t want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through.”
He said he wanted to be seen dancing and laughing on stage, which is exactly what he does in What Had Happened Was…. He breaks out into dances and quips with the audience about how well he can move, which has even more power when he details the severity of his medical challenges.
Of the stroke, he says, “It is a mystery, we still don’t know exactly what happened to me,” detailing that he was suffering from a massive headache before passing out. “I don’t remember 20 days,” he says, as he pieces together the timeline for the audience and himself. “He may be able to make a full recovery, but it’s going to be the worst year of his life,” he says the doctor told the family about his massive brain bleed. “That’s what it was, Atlanta. You finally got the full story.”
As with most conspiracies on the internet, the truth is often far less interesting than the most outlandish theories. But less interesting doesn’t mean less impactful, as Foxx imbues with solemn reverence the emotional turmoil of re-learning to stand, walk, and clean himself. Much of the special is a journey back to his faith in God, which he shares like an impassioned pastor on a mount. He leads worship songs and recounts sparring with God, on his journey toward the light, about whether he deserved this pain, telling the enraptured crowd that God worked through his family and doctors to nurse him back to health.
In a particularly emotional moment, Foxx brings out his youngest daughter Annelise, who he says brought him back from the brink of death by playing her guitar to him in his hospital room. She says she always wanted the chance to perform together, and while she plays her song, Foxx breaks down in tears while clutching her shoulders.
What Had Happened Was… isn’t so much a comedy special as a celebration of life. In its funniest moments, like a stretch where Foxx relays an interaction with Halle Berry during his physio recovery and a bit where impersonates the likes of Denzel Washington and Katt Williams, Foxx’s comic timing is so slick you forget he hasn’t done a stand-up set in two decades, while he’s been busy with an acting career that’s run the gamut from his Oscar-winning turn playing Ray Charles to the Spider-Man franchise—not to mention winning a Grammy as an R&B singer. But for the most part, the humor of the special comes through the way Foxx processes his pain, which he is sure to never diminish or disrespect. “I never let go of my sense of humor,” he says of swallowing his pride when it came to recovery. His rallying cry that punctuates the set: “If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.”
In the special’s final, triumphant moments, Foxx takes the most brazenly outrageous conspiracy about him—that he is actually a clone who has replaced the old Jamie Foxx—and turns it into a celebration of self. “‘There ain’t enough clone juice in the world to clone me,” he shouts into the crowd. “I’m uncloneable,” he says, as he cycles through a series of his most iconic roles from In Living Color to Django Unchained to Ray. It culminates in a euphoric performance of Kanye West’s “Gold Digger,” a track he originally featured on, that he successfully rebrands as the ultimate worship song.
The last thing Foxx says before leaving the stage is “thank you.” He thanks his family, his doctors, his carers, the hospital, his audience, and God. He even thanks the people on the internet who trafficked in lies about him, but not before a playful “f-ck you” first. He sings, dances, and takes it all in during a moment of silent gratitude as he processes finally being able to share what had happened.
President-elect Donald Trump met with NBC’s Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker for his first televised broadcast network interview since his win in the November presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris.
As the U.S. and the rest of the world prepares for Trump’s return to the White House in January, there is much discussion about what the President-elect plans to do once he takes office alongside his Vice President, J.D. Vance.
In the sit-down interview, which took place on Friday, Dec. 6 and aired on Sunday, Dec. 8, Trump covered a range of high-profile topics, including his plans related to abortion, immigration, tariffs, and his controversial Administration selections. He also spoke about his foreign policy plans.
Here are some of the key topics Trump spoke out about in his televised interview as he prepares for his second presidency.
Abortion
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Trump has often applauded himself for the ruling. Throughout the 2024 election, abortion played a large role as the Trump-Vance ticket went head-to-head with Harris and her VP pick, Tim Walz. Trump argued he would not sign a federal ban on abortion when elected, while the Harris-Walz ticket argued that Trump would further restrict abortion rights if re-elected.
When asked whether he would restrict abortion pill access, Trump told Welker: “I’ll probably stay with exactly what I’ve been saying for the last two years. And the answer is no.”
This comes after Vance tried to seem more moderate on abortion in the vice presidential debate, in contrast to his previous comments. Standing on the podium, Vance said that the Republican party needs “to do so much better of a job at earning the American people’s trust back on this issue where they frankly just don’t trust us.”
Plans to pardon
Welker asked Trump, who was convicted during a high-profile hush-money trial earlier this year, whether he plans to pardon Jan. 6 rioters when in office. Trump stated that he will give “first day” consideration of whether he will pardon people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
“We’re going to look at individual cases, but I’m going to be acting very quickly,” he said, adding that he’ll be looking at this his “first day” as the “people have been in there [jail] for years.”
Amid reports that Biden may seek to pre-emptively pardon political figures who could be in Trump’s crosshairs, the President-elect spoke out once again against the Jan. 6 committee, including Liz Cheney, saying: “For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail.”
Read More: What Donald Trump’s Win Means for Abortion
Defending his Administration picks
Trump defended his controversial pick of Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, a selection that has been marked by a series of allegations and concerns.
“He’s a very smart guy,” Trump told Welker, saying he had confidence Hegseth would be confirmed by the Senate. “I’ve had a lot of senators call me up to say he’s fantastic.”
He also defended his pick of Kash Patel as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), who has been deeply critical of the FBI in the past. In an interview last year with former White House Chief Strategist and right-wing agitator Steve Bannon (conducted before Bannon’s incarceration), Patel said he “will go out to find the conspirators not just in government but in the media.”
When asked by Welker if he will fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who still has three years remaining in his 10-year term, in order for Patel to take charge, Trump said he is “not happy with him.”
“It would sort of seem pretty obvious that if Kash gets in, he’s going to be taking someone’s place,” Trump continued.
Trump continued to defer to Patel and his pick for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, when pushed by Welker to say whether he will go after his political opponents, including investigator Jack Smith, saying he wants Bondi to do “what she wants to do.”
President Joe Biden
Trump was also asked if he has plans to direct Patel to go after President Joe Biden, to which the President-elect said, “I’m really looking to make our country successful; I’m not looking to go back into the past… Retribution will be through success.”
He stated that he would not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden, something he proposed on Truth Social in June, “unless I find something that I think is reasonable.”
He also called out Biden’s recent choice to pardon his son Hunter Biden after previously stating that he would not, saying: “I always knew he was going to give him a pardon.”
Medical records
Trump will be the oldest U.S. President by the end of his term—and age was a big discussion throughout the election, particularly when it was Biden going head-to-head with Trump. When Harris took over the race from Biden, she released her medical report to the public, in which her physician said she “possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.” The Harris campaign called on Trump to be equally transparent about sharing his medical records, but he did not do so during the election.
Read More: The Controversy Over Donald Trump’s Absent Medical Records, Explained
The most recent medical report publicly shared by Trump was featured in a Nov. 20, 2023, Truth Social post, which included a screenshot of a letter from Dr. Bruce Aronwald, sharing little detail but saying the former President was in “excellent health.”
Welker asked Trump if he plans on releasing his full medical records, rather than just a letter.
“I would and I think anybody should,” he said, before adding: “Sure, I have no problem with it.”
Health care
On wider matters of health care, Trump continued to express his dissatisfaction with Obamacare, but did not elaborate on a moment in his September debate with Harris, in which when Trump was asked whether he had a plan for health care reform, his answer was: “I have concepts of a plan.”
“Obamacare stinks,” he said on Meet the Press. “If we come up with a better answer, I would present that answer to Democrats and to everybody else and I’d do something about it.”
Tariffs
Trump has caused much discussion with his proposed tariffs on all products imported from America’s trading partners: Mexico, Canada, and China. When Welker pointed out that experts have said such tariffs could impact the prices of a range of imported goods, from cars to electronics, Trump defended his idea.
“I’m a big believer in tariffs. I think tariffs are the most beautiful word. I think they’re beautiful. It’s going to make us rich,” he said.
Read More: How Trump’s Tariffs Could Impact Top Imports From Mexico, Canada, and China
When asked if he could guarantee the tariffs would not impact pricing for the average American he said: “I can’t guarantee anything, I can’t guarantee tomorrow.”
Immigration
Trump emphasized that immigration will be one of the first things he will begin working on when he returns to the White House. Throughout the campaign, Trump promised a slew of new policies regarding immigration, including mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
Read More: What Donald Trump’s Win Means For Immigration
Trump doubled down on some of these policies, arguing that he will be focused on deporting migrants who came to America illegally and have criminal records first, but that eventually the aim would be for all illegal immigrants to be deported.
“Well, I think you have to do it… it’s a very tough thing to do. But you have to have, you know, you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally,” he said. “The people who have been treated very unfairly are the people who have been online for 10 years [waiting] to come into the country.”
When asked by Welker about mixed immigration families—some whereby the parents might be in the U.S. illegally but the children are there legally—and if the plan is to deport the families together, Trump said, “I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.”
On the topic of Dreamers—undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents—Trump said he was willing to work with Democrats on a plan, and that he wants to see them remain in the country.
“We’re talking many years ago, they were brought into this country many years ago, some of them are no longer young people, and in many cases, they become successful,” he said. “We’re going to have to do something with them.”
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Elder Omeni Sobotie, has officially resumed duty after a medical vacation.
Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
“This is to inform the general membership of our great party and the public that the State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, has communicated to members of the State Working Committee, SWC, on his official resumption of duty effective today the 2nd of December, 2024.
“The State Chairman seizes the opportunity to express his appreciation to members of the party for their support.”
Sobotie has been on a medical vacation.
Before he left for the medical vacation, he sent a letter to the SWC.
On receiving the letter, the SWC, in line with the provisions of the party’s Constitution, voted to confirm Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Acting State Chairman.
In the series premiere of NBC’s hospital-set comedy St. Denis Medical, a woman with a vague complaint of leg pain lays into the eponymous medical facility’s harried intake nurse, who has been distracted from helping her by a swarm of frantic patients and a computer-network crash. “I’m gonna give you a number for the person who can help you,” says Val (Superstore alum Kaliko Kauahi), the nurse, handing over a Post-it note. “That’s the White House. Ask for Joe. Tell him there’s a nursing shortage and we need him to fix the health care system.”
If you chuckled at that joke, as I did, then you’re probably going to enjoy St. Denis, which will make its two-episode debut on Nov. 12. There are way too many medical shows on TV right now—without doctors, lawyers, and cops, broadcast prime-time would basically be sports and singing competitions—but this one feels unique among them, and not just because it’s a comedy. A mockumentary in the tradition of Abbott Elementary and Parks and Recreation, set within a beleaguered public institution populated (mostly) by committed employees, it also has the sly political insight of co-creator Justin Spitzer’s big-box store sitcom Superstore. And it’s promising enough to earn those comparisons. If the rest of the season is as strong as the six episodes I was able to screen, St. Denis could be the best network comedy since Abbott.
Headquartered in the small-town Oregon hospital’s emergency room, the series feels solidly constructed from the beginning—in part because, by all appearances, Spitzer and his fellow creator, Eric Ledgin, gleaned many good casting and character ideas from its best antecedents. Allison Tolman, a wonderful actor who’s bounced around between short-lived gigs (Downward Dog, Emergence, Why Women Kill, the first season of Fargo) without finding the long-term role she deserves, stars as Alex, an obsessively devoted, control-freak RN who’s just been promoted to supervisor. (See also: Parks and Rec’s Leslie Knope, Abbott’s Janine Teagues.) Her foil, Ron (comedy eminence David Alan Grier), is a burned-out veteran physician whose gruff facade conceals both kindness and loneliness; think Ron Swanson meets Raymond Holt from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Their boss, the hospital’s cluelessly ambitious executive director, Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey from The Goldbergs) gives off light Michael Scott vibes.
But Spitzer and Ledgin (who serves as showrunner) also use their relatively large ensemble as a chance to craft characters cleverly tailored to the hospital setting. Jury Duty’s Mekki Leeper brings comic relief as Matt, an inept, fresh-out-of-school nurse from a bizarre religious background. Assigned the straightforward task of administering an EpiPen, he accidentally sticks himself with the syringe and hulks out on epinephrine. Matt instantly develops a crush on a more senior nurse, the wry Serena (Kahyun Kim), whose initial read on her new charge is: “He dumb.” The most inspired character of all is Bruce (Josh Lawson, who also appeared in Superstore), a handsome trauma surgeon who plays to the documentary cameras. Seizing an opportunity to talk about his COVID-19 experience, he reminisces: “We were at war. Colleagues became brothers.” Bruce is a pure product of the pop-cultural mythology that surrounds doctors; he clearly watches every medical drama where guys like him are heroes and believes the hype.
While Ron grumbles and Joyce ignores the basic problems facing her overworked, underpaid staff in a quixotic quest to transform her safety-net hospital into a “destination medical facility,” the show’s real villain is a broken health care system. Underfunded and thus understaffed (which is why it’s so outrageous when Joyce invests $300k in a cutting-edge mammography machine in hopes of attracting out-of-state patients), St. Denis only works as well as it does because of employees like Alex, who sacrifice their personal lives for a job that doesn’t love them back. (“You want gratitude?” jaded Val sneers at Matt when a patient fails to thank him for life-saving care. “You’re in the wrong business. Drive an ice cream truck. Sell some weed.”) Regardless of their best efforts, the stakes are so high and the gap between resources and needs so vast that the hospital makes potentially lethal mistakes. The woman Val shrugs off in the premiere turns out to have a blood clot in her leg. She almost dies of a pulmonary embolism.
I think of comedies like St. Denis, Parks and Rec, and Abbott as systems sitcoms, in the same tradition of politicized fiction as the wave of systems novels that emerged decades ago, by authors like Don DeLillo and Thomas Pynchon. These shows take a scalpel to the absurdities and ironies and contradictions inherent in the systems we’re supposed to be able to trust, from education to local government. And if this type of storytelling seems more popular now than it’s ever been before, well, that in itself probably says something about the state of our institutions.
Of course, sitcoms—especially the ones designed to be widely appealing enough for broadcast TV—must also balance social commentary with not just humor, but likable characters and a constant stream of mostly lighthearted jokes. Once in a while, Spitzer and Ledgin let the pendulum swing too far in one direction. An episode that follows Alex’s attempt to split up a team of nurses who call themselves “the Filipino mafia,” for the sake of “intersectionality and inclusivity,” feels pointless. But it’s the only clunker of the initial bunch. More typical is the tight, thoughtful yet funny episode that spins the question of whether the staff should accommodate a religious patient’s onerous demands into riffs on superstition, astrology, and the purposes faith might serve in the ER.
The true test of St. Denis Medical will come a couple dozen episodes in, when broad characters like Matt as well as familiar conflicts like Alex’s work-life imbalance start to get old. At that point, the agility with which the show tackles specific aspects of the health care crisis is going to be crucial; Abbott proved its longevity by taking on charter schools in Season 2, while Superstore, in its final season, rose to the unprecedented occasion of the pandemic. Until then, the prospect of another comedy on the level of those predecessors should be enough to keep us watching.
As the calls grow for Donald Trump to release his medical records, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris called out her opponent once more during a rally in Houston, Texas, on Friday. She pointed towards the legal battle of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Texas right wing leaders to access the private medical records of patients who seek out-of-state abortions.
“Please do see the irony,” Harris said. “On the one hand, Donald Trump won’t let anyone see his medical records. I gave up mine! And on the other hand, they want to get their hands on your medical records.”
In Harris’ report, physician Joshua R. Simmons said the Vice President “possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.”
Soon after the Harris campaign released the Vice President’s medical report on Oct. 12, over 200 doctors and health care providers signed an open letter, calling on Trump to release his.
The letter, dated Oct. 13 and organized by the group Doctors for Harris, argued that the former President should have similar transparency “given his advancing age.”
“The American people deserve to have confidence in their elected officials’ mental and physical capacity to do the jobs they’ve elected them to do,” they wrote. “Trump ought to be going above and beyond to provide transparency on his physical health and mental acuity, given his advancing age.”
Read More: What We Learned From Kamala Harris’ Medical Report—and Why It’s Significant
This issue has become more salient for Trump, ever since President Joe Biden, 81, dropped out of the presidential election on July 21, and Trump, 78, was left running against a then 59-year-old Harris.
Though it is often traditional for presidential candidates to share medical records, there’s no statute that requires Trump to release his records. According to Jeff Gulati, a political science professor at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., the more that Trump refuses to do what Democrats are asking of him, the more his base supports him.
“It’s really just a matter of public opinion now, and he’s gotten away with not sharing it in two consecutive elections,” Gulati tells TIME. “So there’s just, you know, no real incentive for him to release them now.”
The most recent medical report publicly shared by Trump was featured in a Nov. 20, 2023, Truth Social post, which included a screenshot of a letter from Dr. Bruce Aronwald, sharing little detail but saying the former President was in “excellent health.”
In August, Trump said he would “gladly” share his medical records, but he has yet to do so. However, in October, when approached by reporters and asked about his medical records, Trump reportedly said the public already has enough information on his health.
“Yeah, my health records—I’ve done five exams over the last four years. You’ve got them all,” he said. “I’ve given my health exams, I’ve also done cognitive tests twice and I’ve aced them.”
If Trump is elected in November, he will be the oldest U.S. President by the end of his term—and a significant concern coming from the doctors’ open letter centered around the Republican candidate’s age and mental acuity. This is the same scrutiny that befell Trump’s former opponent.
Read More: Why Biden’s Age Has Become a Bigger Deal Than Trump’s
Meanwhile, Gulati says the Harris campaign needs to “run a fine line of not being seen as ageist” when discussing Trump’s medical records. “It’s obviously a touchy subject for the Democrats,” he says. “Age and health are obviously related, but Harris can’t really go there.”
On the day Harris released her medical records, the Trump campaign commented on Trump’s own records in a press release.
“President Trump has voluntarily released updates from his personal physician, as well as detailed reports from Dr. Ronny Jackson who treated him after the first assassination attempt. All have concluded he is in perfect and excellent health to be Commander in Chief,” said Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung.
Read More: What We Do and Don’t Know About Trump’s Ear Wound
Trump’s medical team has remained tight-lipped over information about the former President’s medical records after the attempt or the extent of his ear wound, which he obtained during the assassination attempt at his campaign event on July 13 in Pennsylvania.
Republican representative and physician Ronny Jackson of Texas did write a signed letter released on July 20, stating that the ear wound was caused by a gunshot, and that the wound was “beginning to granulate and heal properly.” Jackson released a follow-up letter on July 26, providing an update on Trump’s ear wound.
The Imo State Police Commissioner, Aboki Danjuma, has ordered a probe of the Medical Director of Goodwill Maternity at Obinze in Owerri West LGA of the state, Silas Nwamadi, who allegedly seized twin baby boys delivered at his hospital over the mother’s inability to pay the hospital bill.
The police commissioner also ordered the immediate release of the twin boys, Chidindu and Chijindu, who were held at the maternity since May 4, after being delivered via a cesarean section, due to their parents’ inability to pay the medical bill.
The CP, who gave the order at the command headquarters in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday, stated that the medical director of the maternity, who conducted the delivery of the babies, admitted to asking the nursing mother to give him the twins in exchange for the unpaid hospital bill but claimed he said it jokingly.
“The medical doctor admitted before me that he had ‘jokingly’ asked the 19-year-old mother of the twins, Precious Okere, to hand over the children to him,” the CP said.
Describing the statement as a serious one, the CP instructed his men to investigate the matter.
He scolded the medical director for his lack of empathy toward the children and their 19-year-old mother, even after some compassionate Nigerians offered to cover the delivery bill.
DAILY POST gathered that the CP learned about the issue through the grandmother of the twins, Mrs Ngozi Okere, who had been at the maternity with the twins and their mother since May 4. She had petitioned the CP on Wednesday, alleging that the Medical Director had been pressuring her and her daughter to give him the twins in exchange for the bill—a claim the 19-year-old mother confirmed to the CP.
It was further gathered that on Wednesday, some compassionate Nigerians, led by activist journalist Chidiebube Okeoma, went to the maternity to secure the release of the twins and their mother, but the doctor increased the bill.
Okeoma told DAILY POST that all attempts made by the concerned Nigerians for the doctor to accept the initial bill went unheeded.
Instead, the nurses allegedly fought with the 19-year-old mother of the twins and her mother.
The children’s grandmother reportedly lost her phone, sustained injuries and was assaulted along with the nursing mother.
Okeoma added that he had previously advocated for the release of the children, who had remained nearly six months at the maternity, calling on well-meaning Nigerians who responded by making financial contributions.
At the time of filing this report, the doctor was seen at the Scorpion Squad Unit of the police command giving a statement.
Loading…
Cardi B is providing an update on her health.
Three days before she was set to take the stage at ONE MusicFest, the “WAP” rapper canceled her performance at the Atlanta festival due to being hospitalized over a health issue.
“I am so sad to share this news,” Cardi wrote in a message shared to her Instagram Oct. 23, “but l’ve been in the hospital recovering from a medical emergency the last couple of days and I wont be able to perform at ONE MusicFest.”
And while the 32-year-old didn’t disclose details of her condition, she expressed her deep regret over the cancellation, saying, “It breaks my heart that I won’t get to see my fans this weekend and I really wish I could be there.”
Cardi added, “Thank you for understanding and I’ll be back better and stronger soon. Don’t worry. Love yall.”
Following the message, ONE MusicFest spoke out in support of the Grammy winner’s decision to opt out of the show over “ongoing health issues.” Resharing her post to Instagram, the festival wrote in a statement, “Let’s all keep her in our prayers for a full recovery!”
The National Executive Council of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has issued a 21-day notice of strike to relevant stakeholders to address their beleaguering demands.
MDCAN also stated that failure to fulfill its demands would mean it cannot guarantee the continuation of services rendered by its members who are holders of Medical and Dental Fellowships nationwide.
This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital, at the end of MDCAN’s extraordinary virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, signed by its President, Prof. Aminu Mohammad, and Secretary, Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim.
The statement directed its members to take lawful steps, not limited to withdrawal of services, but also legal options where advertisements for the position of Vice Chancellor are discriminatory and disenfranchise Medical and Dental Lecturers.
It reads: “NEC resolves that any unlawful and discriminatory posture toward holders of Medical and Dental Fellowship qualifications will no longer be tolerated.
“All members where such discriminatory advertisements are released have been directed to take necessary lawful means to restore their rights as provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The NEC also resolved that it is unacceptable for any university in Nigeria to benchmark the requirements for the office of Vice Chancellor to the attainment of a PhD without recognizing the Medical and Dental Fellowships peculiar to the medical profession as an academic and professional qualification that more than suffices wherever a PhD is required.
MDCAN further decried the failure of the government to harmonize the retirement age of medical consultants to 70 years, especially in the face of increasing needs for both academic and professional duties of these medical and dental specialists.
According to them, these individuals are the undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental trainers and providers of specialist medical services in tertiary health institutions (teaching hospitals, federal medical centers and specialty hospitals) at state and federal levels.
MDCAN also urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, complete the process of harmonizing the payment of the emoluments of Clinical Medical Lecturers with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in order to correct the significant shortfalls in their emoluments, entry level, and pension.
The NEC also commended the steps taken thus far by members to address the discriminatory advertisements, which have the sole aim of disenfranchising medical lecturers from contributing their quota to university administration and management at the highest level.
The Created For Good Works (CFGW), a non-governmental organisation, an initiative of Benjamin Angyu-Danjuma Gani and his Wife, Mrs Nanban Danjuma, on Thursday, held a free medical outreach for over 1,200 people in Taraba.
Speaking at the flagging off of the programme at the CRC-N Comprehensive Health Clinic in Wukari town, co-founder of the foundation, Mrs Nanban Danjuma, said the foundation’s mission to support the less privileged in the society has been a long-standing commitment of her family, which led to the formal establishment of CFGW in 2016 to expand their reach.
Danjuma who said the foundation has consistently provided assistance to those in need, including prisoners, orphans, and widows, through various interventions aimed at improving their lives, expressed her satisfaction with the progress so far made by the organisation.
This is even as she encouraged other well-meaning individuals to find ways to give back to society, especially by helping others who are struggling to live in this hard economic time.
While expressing her determination and her husband to reach more people, Danjuma said, “We are not currently partnering with the government for this outreach programme, but we hope to collaborate with the State Ministry of Health next year to expand our impact and reach more people who need help.
“Our major challenge has always been funding, but we remain undeterred in our commitment to do what we can for the good of the people.”
The co-founder emphasised her vision of CFGW’s global expansion in the coming years, stating, “We intend to make our impact felt worldwide within the next 10 years. Nothing is more fulfilling to me than helping fellow human beings in need.”
On his part, Dr Lass David, the head of the medical team, highlighted the range of services offered during the outreach, which included general medical consultations, eye examinations, surgical procedures, laboratory tests, and the distribution of free eyeglasses and drugs to patients.
“Our team was prepared to attend to over 1,000 patients during the two-day outreach and conduct 30 cataract surgeries to restore sight to those in need, but we are overwhelmed with the crowds of people that turn out.
“Our focus was to address a wide range of medical concerns and provide comprehensive care to the community, but as you can see, we have to go beyond our planed scope,” he said.
Some beneficiaries of the free medical outreach including Tabitha Agbu, Hilkon David, Abraham Agyo, Mariam Abubakar and Susanna Musa all praised the foundation for its dedication to improving healthcare access for the underserved in Taraba State by bringing much-needed relief to many and reinforcing the foundation’s commitment to making a lasting difference in people’s lives.
One of the beneficiaries, Abraham Agyo said, “I was treated of Ulcer, Malaria and eye problems. I was here in the morning and now, I can tell you that I am feeling much better than I came.
“I was given drugs that will last for over a week and if I were to pay for this medication, I don’t think I would have afforded the money. May God bless Arc. Benjamin Angyu-Danjuma and his wife for their sacrifices,” he said.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Substandard medical care, negligence and the liability that comes with it have been an issue in the Nigerian society in recent times. And while many understand how medical negligence affects them, they do not know what steps they can take when such situation arises.
Medical negligence can be a situation where people are misdiagnosed, or when they are diagnosed properly but given the wrong medication, when they are operated on and foreign objects are left in the body of patient or when they are ignored and not given prompt attention, leading to fatalities and many other unethical practices that affect the health of patients.
When a case of medical negligence comes up, the law may be the next recourse. But who can sue? The person who has been a victim of the medical error can sue but in a situation where the patient has passed away or the patient is a child, then the next of kin of the patient, parent or legal guardian can sue for compensation.
You can sue when medical professionals who owe what is legally known as a duty of care towards their patients breach the dictates of care to their patients and the patient suffers some damage because this gives rise to a potential claim for compensation.
Every case is however different and varying factors are taken into account to determine if a medical expert has breached the duty of care.
The critical factor when suing for compensation is that the victim must have suffered some harm as a result of the act being complained about. And to make a claim, the law provides for a period of three years to make a claim for compensation and this period runs from the date when the person first received the negligent treatment complained of or the date on which it was first discovered that the treatment was negligent.
The amount of compensation awarded will vary from claim to claim. However, there are certain things the court will consider when deciding the amount of compensation; a person’s age, severity of injury, employment status and associated losses caused as a result of the negligent treatment.
READ ALSO: Bobrisky: Court orders Verydarkman to remove defamatory posts on Falana, Falz
All is set by the Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria (AMSN) to induct 13 renowned medical researchers, who are professors in various medical fields, as new members.
The academy will also honour four serving Nigerian ministers, namely: Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa; and the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, as well as a retired bank director, Mr. John Oyetan, and Chief Sir Kessington Adebutu, a philanthropist businessman with honourary fellowships.
Additionally, the professional body will likewise inaugurate the newly elected President, emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie, who is succeeding Prof. Oladapo Ashiru after the completion of his tenure, and some other officers.
The outing President of the Academy and reproductive consultant endocrinologist, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, made this disclosure at a pre-event media briefing held in Lagos on Monday towards the academy’s forthcoming annual general meeting and conference.
According to him, the annual conference, which is slated for Lagos on Saturday, October 26, will feature the current Chairperson of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, Nigeria, Dr. Mustafa Muhammed Lecky, as a keynote lecturer.
Lecky will speak on the theme, “Achieving Effective and Sustainable Reform of the Nigerian Health Sector in a Challenged Economy.”
Prof. Ashiru listed the 13 researchers to be inducted to include Mrs. Cecilia Igwilo, who is a distinguished professor of pharmacy; John Anetor, a professor of chemical pathology; Prof. Akinlolu Ojo, a physician and academic medicine leader; Joseph Fadare, a professor of medicine; and Olayinka Ogunleye, a professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics.
Others, according to him, are Victor Lasebikan, a Professor of Psychiatry; Oyindamola Abiodun, a professor of pharmacology; Mrs. Titilola Samuel, a professor of endocrinology and molecular oncology; Olufunsho Awodele, a professor of toxicology and therapeutics; Prof. Blessing Jaja, a Neuroscientist/Clinical Anatomist whose research activities have resulted in four scientific breakthroughs; Linus Saalu, a Professor of Anatomy; Prof. Abidemi Akindele, an outstanding pharmacologist; and Dr. Ogunbayode Ishola, who is an associate professor of pharmacology.
Ashiru, who is the Chairman\CEO of Medical Art Group and the first black person globally to be elected as the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), a non-state global organisation on fertility, said all the listed individuals were considered among several others after a rigorous selection process based on their notable contributions to the field of medicine, nation’s building, and humanity.
He, however, lamented the poor state of the country’s economy, particularly as it pushes up the cost of medication and treatment beyond the reach of many Nigerians, saying something must be done fast to arrest the situation.
He declared that AMSN, as a professional body, would continue to find positive ways to move the health sector to a greater height.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, has flagged off a four-day medical outreach for rural communities within the senatorial district.
The medical mission, which commenced at Oke-Oyi main market, Ilorin East local government area of the state, featured treatments for malaria, typhoid, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, gastroenteritis, peptic ulcer, asthma, diarrhea, and other health conditions.
Represented by his legislative aide, Mallam Abdulkadir Tunde, Senator Mustapha said that the outreach was aimed at improving access to health care for residents of the Kwara Central District.
He said that the programme was organised in collaboration with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Budo Egba, Kwara.
The lawmaker also said that the outreach would be held in strategic locations across the four local governments in the district.
Senator Mustapha encouraged his constituents to take full advantage of the healthcare services being offered.
Speaking on the exercise, the Baale of Oke Oyi, Alhaji Muhammad Soliu Abdulkadir, commended the legislator for prioritising the well-being of his constituents and prayed to Almighty God to guide and protect him as he continued to serve the people of Kwara Central.
Also, a beneficiary, Alhaja Mariam Abdullah, expressed her gratitude to Senator Mustapha for the programme, which she noted, would help alleviate the medical challenges facing the community.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Newer Posts