How Wrong Diagnosis Of Cancer Led To Dora Akunyili’s Death

By TheCable Nigeria via Sahara reporters

When Mrs Dora Nkem Akunyili was the Zonal Secretary (South-east) of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund in 1998, Nigerian doctors gave her what many of her family members considered to be a health scare. They said she had a growth and needed surgery.

Akunyili, then 44, decided to travel to the United States, first to get a second opinion and then undergo the prescribed surgery. The bill for the medical trip was $17,000, including $12,000 for the surgery.

During pre-surgery check-up in the US, the doctors told her the Nigerian doctors had made a wrong diagnosis and that she did not need any surgery. It was said to be a minor issue that medication would solve.

She thanked the doctors and, to their surprise, said she was going to return the money meant for the surgery to PTF. That was strange. Nigerian government officials had devised a way of making sure such monies were not returned to the treasury.

The hospital informed the PTF, under the leadership of Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, about one honest Nigerian they had found. Buhari, himself a straightforward person, was very impressed. He wrote a letter to Akunyili commending her honesty.

NAFDAC

Then came 2001. President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to appoint a director-general for the National Agency for Drug and Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and asked for the recommendation of an honest Nigerian pharmacist. Akunyili’s name promptly came up. Someone who had heard about her PTF record recommended her.

There was a little problem, a Nigerian problem. Objections were raised that the minister of health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, was an Igbo from Anambra State and NAFDAC, being a powerful agency under the ministry, should not be headed by another Igbo from Anambra.

It was also argued that the market for fake and substandard products were controlled by the Igbo, with Onitsha – also in Anambra State – a major centre for the illicit business. She was going to protect “her people”, the antagonists said.

Obasanjo, stubborn to the cause,  ignored the observations and appointed her. She went on to do a credible job and ended up as one of the most outstanding public officers in Nigeria’s history, celebrated locally and globally. She had lost a sister to fake drugs, and that was perhaps the impetus she needed to go on the offensive.

Misdiagnosis

Meanwhile, Akunyili always went abroad for check-ups and she was always given an all-clear. She continued to look robust and energetic, and took up another government job as minister of information and communications. But on July 13, 2013, something strange happened to her. She was preparing to travel to the United States to receive an award. The following day was her birthday. Her 59th, precisely. Then she fell ill. She was physically weak and having pains. She decided to go ahead with her trip and attend to her health in the United States.

It was while she was there that new checks were carried out. Alas, she had cancer. The original diagnosis in 1998 was right. But the diagnosis at the point of surgery was wrong.

She became seriously ill and there were fears she could lose her life. She was in the hospital for months and only returned to Nigeria this year when the doctors said she was improving.

Her last public appearance was at the National Conference in Abuja, where she was a delegate. Pictures of a frail-looking Akumyili soon went viral on the internet.

TheCable could not ascertain the type of cancer, but there are several reports pinpointing cervical – and some claim it was ovarian. Globally, cervical cancer is the second most common and the fifth deadliest cancer in women, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Akunyili died on June 7, 2014 in India after surviving many death rumours.

NYPD Finds Body Of Missing High School Student Omotayo Adeoye in Hudson River

     

 

     

Omotayo Adeoye, 17, had committed suicide on May 29th by jumping off into the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge. She had been caught cheating on a difficult German Language exam by her teacher, Eva Malikova, at the high school of Math, Science and Engineering in Manhattan. Adeoye immediately left the school building, leaving behind a suicide note.
The short note, later found by school officials and police read, “I just want to go away forever on the bottom of the river.”
The suicide occurred that same Thursday Afternoon at about 3:30pm New York time.  Eyewitnesses told police that Adeoye was seen jumping into the Hudson River and she was swept away by the currents shortly afterwards as fishermen on the bank of the river watched helplessly.
For nearly a week police listed Adeoye as “missing,” and proceeded that way after hearing numerous tips from witnesses who said that they had spotted the teenager swimming, and even laying on the New York banks of the river days later. Those sightings later proved to be unfounded.
Omotayo Adeoye’s body was found on the morning of June the 3rd, at 9:30am, floating not very far from where she jumped in New York’s Washington Heights district. The police department’s Harbor Unit at 170th Street and Riverside Drive fished her out of the water. Police say the teenager was “unresponsive,” but they moved her southward to Harlem’s 125th Street Pier, where the Emergency Medical Service officials declared Adeoye dead at the scene.
New York’s Medical Examiner is still investigating the cause of death, including time and place. They continue to hold her body that reportedly will be delivered to her distraught family members.

May her soul rest in peace!

 

 

 

NYPD officers at the Pier on 125th Street-Photo credit

 

 

 Ms. Omotayo Adeoye's facebook page photo

 

NYPD officers accompany Omotayo's body

 

 

 

 

#saharareporters

Another celebrity breakup!...Melanie Griffith To Divorce Hubby, Antonio Banderas After 18 Years of Marriage!

 

According to TMZ reports, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, who have been married for 18 years, are separating.

 

Melanie is the one who filed the papers, citing 'irreconcilable differences'. She is also seeking spousal support and joint legal and sole physical custody of their 18 year old daughter, Stella.

This is Melanie’s fourth divorce and Antonio’s second.

Jennifer Lopez and boyfriend, Casper Smart allegedly end their relationship after 2 years

According to Us Weekly, several sources claim that Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend, Casper Smart have broken up 'amicably' after dating for over two years.

Their alleged split originated a few months ago and that the distance between them wasn’t working for their relationship. The two recently graced the red carpet together at the Billboard Music Awards!

Breakfast Tips for Faster Weight Loss

Pick a Cereal With Large Flakes

Size matters—even when it comes to wheat flakes. In a new study from Penn State, researchers crushed up cereal to create four different sizes of flakes. Because the cereal that was crushed into smaller pieces was denser when participants poured it into a bowl, people underestimated the number of calories in those bowls. The lesson here: If you choose bigger flakes, you'll consume fewer calories without even noticing the difference.

Eat Oat Bran

We're the first to admit that oat bran isn't exactly the sexiest breakfast food. But it is one of the smartest: A recent study found that one of its key nutrients—fibre—keeps you fuller, longer, meaning you won't get hit by random cravings throughout the day.

Have a Big(ger) Breakfast

Yep, a larger morning meal might mean more calories, but it also might mean more efficient weight loss. In a recent study, one group of people ate 700 calories at breakfast, 500 calories at lunch, and 200 calories at dinner, while another group ate 200 calories at breakfast, 500 calories at lunch, and 700 calories at dinner. Twelve weeks later, those who’d been eating a 700-calorie breakfast had lost two and a half times more weight than the other group, likely because your metabolism is at its most efficient in the a.m.

Stock Up on Protein Early

Another way to rein in your appetite and fend off cravings? A protein-packed first meal, which one study has shown to produce a potent satiety signaler called peptide YY. In the study, participants who consumed a protein-rich breakfast reported feeling less hungry and ate fewer indulgent snacks after dinner.

Eat Oatmeal

A bowl of cereal with large flakes: great. A bowl of oatmeal: possibly even better. See, according to a recent study, people who ate a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast described themselves as less hungry and more satisfied than people who ate the same amount of calories in cereal.

Add Some Eggs to Your Breakfast

Research has shown that eating two eggs in the morning can lead to more effective weight loss. The thinking is that the high amount of protein—about 5.5 grams in one medium egg—keeps you full. Bonus: They also contain a nutrient called choline, which improves nervous system function and cardiovascular health.

Top Your Toast with Peanut Butter

One of the easiest-to-make breakfasts—peanut butter on toast—is also one of the healthiest. In one study, participants who ate peanuts and peanut butter in the a.m. had higher levels of peptide YY, a.k.a. the "I feel full now" hormone; their blood sugar levels also spiked less after eating a carb-heavy lunch. Just be smart about your intake since each two-tablespoon serving contains about 190 calories.

 

#www.womenshealthmag.com