A new breed of doctors.

Medical education in Nigeria is by and large still geared to international recognition. It is high time to discard this hangover from the colonial past. While maintaining international standards of excellence, Nigeria's medical schools need to turn out doctors equipped to solve Nigeria's health problems, not those of other countries.

Intra-uterine growth, birthweights and maturity of the African newborn.

The prevalence of low birthweight in many African countries is higher than in developed countries. This is largely because of the greater number of babies who are light for gestational age. In general, mean birthweights of African babies at various gestational ages are lower than those of developed countries.

Exchange transfusion using G-6-PG deficient or Hgb-AS blood in icteric neonates.

The sickle cell trait (Hgb-AS) and G-6-PD deficiency are two genetic defects which increase the hemolytic susceptibility of erythrocytes. As these two traits are common in Nigeria, blood transfusions with such defective cells are frequently given. In this study, the immediate and long-term effects of using either normal blood or blood with either or these defects for exchange transfusions in 115 neonates have been examined.

The risk of jaundice in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient babies exposed to menthol.

A major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Lagos, Nigeria, is severe neonatal jaundice seen in G-6-PD deficient babies. The observation that the jaundice is more severe in outpatient than in inpatient babies suggests that its cause is exogenous. "Mentholated" powder which is commonly used in many clinics and at home to dress umbilical cords was suspected to be the offending agent.

Developing a clinic strategy appropriate to community family planning needs and practices: an experience in Lagos, Nigeria.

In Southern Nigeria, desired birth intervals, typically two to three years in length, have been achieved largely through the traditional practices of breastfeeding and sexual abstinence. In order to make the most effective use of both traditional practices and modern contraception, the Lagos Family Health Clinic, after analyzing responses on family planning in their 1975 health survey, developed strategies to facilitate introduction of modern family planning methods during the weaning period. These programs include regular home visits to mothers of preschool children; family planning clinic counseling at the time of weaning; and the organizing of a fathers's club to provide education about the clinic's program.

A genetic study of lactose digestion in Nigerian families.

The ability to digest orally administered lactose was determined in individuals representing a number of Nigerian ethnic groups. The data are mainly presented as family pedigrees. In those families where both parents were unable to digest lactose, all of the progeny were lactose nondigestors.

Intraperitoneal fluid infusion in children with gastroenteritis.

In a study of 91 babies with dehydration as a result of gastroenteritis the intraperitoneal route was found to be safe and effective in those with mild or moderate dehydration, but not in those who were severely dehydrated. The fluids found to be most effective in the intraperitoneal technique were normal saline with 28 mEq of potassium chloride per litre, or for hypertonically dehydrated babies half-strength Darrow's solution. This technique can be carried out by a nurse working single-handed if the baby is premedicated with promazine.