Background: Blood donation is a very important life saving intervention in health care services. It is also known that some diseases are transmitted from the seemly healthy blood donors like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis and WHO has recommended that these diseases should be screened to get safe blood. Since screening of blood donors is done in this health facility, it is therefore necessary to know the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in these blood donors. This study aimed at determining the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis in prospective blood donors in our health institution. Methodology: This was a retrospective study. The records of the blood donors were reviewed and Biodata and positivity of the diseases were collected. Data was analyzed with Excel and Epi-info. Results: The total of 2626 blood donors were recruited in 2012 out of which 2292 (87.3%) were males, 271 (10.3%) females, .7397] and 63, undocumented gender (2.4%). Majority of the donors were within the age group 29-39 (43.3%, N=1143). The seroprevalance of HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis were 0.3% (N=8), 0.3% (N=8), 0.2% (N=5), 0.1% (N=3) respectively. All the cases were males. Conclusion:The study revealed a low prevalence of transfusion transmissible infectious agents among our prospective blood donors. It could be that people who know their status do not come for blood donation or as a result of other challenges confronting safe blood practices in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Background. Tuberculosis is a major public health problem, and its control has been facing a lot of challenges with emergence of HIV. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant strain has also propounded the problem especially in children where diagnosis is difficult to make. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is in vitro resistant to isoniazid (H) and rifampicin (R). Paediatric multi-drug resistant tuberculosis with HIV coinfection is rare, and there is no documented report from Nigeria. Objective. To report a case of paediatric MDR-TB in Nigeria about it. Methods. The case note of the patient was retrieved, and relevant data were extracted and summarized. Results. A 9-year-old female HIV-positive pupil with a year history of recurrent cough, 3 months history of recurrent fever, and generalized weight loss was diagnosed and treated for tuberculosis but failed after retreatment. She was later diagnosed with MDR-TB and is presently on DOT-Plus regimen. Conclusion. Paediatric MDR-TB with HIV co-infection is rare. Early diagnosis and treatment is important to prevent spread of the disease. The use of Isoniazid preventive therapy is recommended for children who come in contact with patients with active tuberculosis and also for HIV patients without active tuberculosis.

Background: Tetanus toxoid immunization is given to pregnant women and women of child bearing age to prevent neonatal tetanus and maternal tetanus. The tetanus toxoid vaccine is given five times to women of child bearing age. If the vaccination is given with correct dose, through the right route of administration and completely the woman will be protected for life/ all child bearing years. It was therefore necessary to find out the tetanus toxoid coverage in such tertiary health institution where many pregnant women attend and immunization is given. Objective: To determine the tetanus toxoid coverage in the health facility. Methods: Records of the data management tools of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) immunization were checked and data collected. The data was collected from tetanus toxoid register in the immunization unit of Federal medical centre, Umuahia. Data was analyzed with Excel and Epi info. Results: The health facility summary form showed steady increase in coverage rate for TT1 and TT2 pregnant women only from 2006(33%, 28%) to 2012(64%, 50%) except 2010(37%, 29%) where it reduced. The dropout rate of TT1/TT2 ranged from 14% in 2011 to 28% in 2009. The dropout rate in 2012 was 22%. In immunization register 2006-2009, those that competed (took TT1 to TT5) ranged from 10%-16%.However, those that started in 2010 to 2012 were not expected to have taken up to TT5 due to interval of administration Conclusion: The coverage rate of TT was low with highest coverage rate in 2012 and there was also high dropout rate. This showed that many pregnant women are still not immunized with TT and some that started did not get the second dose indicating no protection.

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