THE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Gymnema Sylvestre ON BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL OF ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS (Rattus Norvergicus)

This work was carried out to determine the anti-diabetic effect of aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre on the blood sugar level of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. 25 experimental animals used were divided into five groups each containing five rats. Group 1 served as control rats fed with normal diet, group 2 served as control rats + extract (CE), i.e. non diabetic rats fed with extract, group 3 served as Alloxan-induced rats +extract (IE), i.e. diabetic treated with extract, group 4 served as Alloxan-induced rats + drug (ID), diabetic rats treated with synthetic drug, Glibenclimide and group 5 served as Alloxan-induced diabetic rats + normal diet, i.e. diabetic rats fed with normal diet. 250mg per kg body weight of aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre and 125mg per kg body weight of glibenclimide was administered to rats in groups, IE, CE and ID respectively for 28 days. On a daily basis, the blood sugar level of the animals was checked. The result of the blood sugar level is presented in this work as “average blood sugar level per week”. The findings from this work revealed that, diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre had a significant drop in blood sugar level. Diabetic rats treated with the synthetic drug also had a drop in blood sugar level, but not as fast as that of the extract. The non diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre maintained normal blood sugar level, possibly because the pancreatic beta-cells were not impaired

National health bill: Implication on public health law and ethics in population

Objectives: The lack of clear provision for health in the 1999 constitution as amended in 2011 has implications on health system. In 2004, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in collaboration with the National Assembly of Nigeria proposed a National Health Bill (Public Health Law). The research was conducted to identify the constitutional gap on health systems and discussed the implication for the provision of tertiary health care systems in National Health Bill. Methods: Systematic and comprehensive assessment of the National health policy and constitution provision for health systems were reviewed. Key Informant Interview (Kll) was also carried out among the policy makers and desk review of documents and records. Results: The lack of clarity and specificity in the constitutional provision makes it possible for all tiers of government at all level to engage in all the three types of health care. The National Health Bill was developed as an instrument for correcting the gaps in the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as it relates to the health sector. Its provisions have effects on all three levels of care and subsystems (primary, secondary and tertiary). Many provisions have implications on the tertiary health system in either directly or indirectly. However the sections that have most profound effects on the tertiary health system operation are sections 8 and 9, which provide for the establishment of National Tertiary Hospital Commission. The commission would bring all the tertiary facilities owned by Federal Government its control. Conclusion: The coming into being of National Tertiary Hospital Commission will lead to improved funding, management, regulation and coordination of tertiary health system