Latest news with #Abdurrahman
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
This doctor says one-third of her patients self-diagnose using online research. She and others are warning of the risks
For every three patients who come to her psychiatry clinic in North Bay, Ont., Valérie Primeau estimates at least one will say they have researched online and determined they have a mental disorder. The psychiatrist said it's particularly common with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 'I haven't been diagnosed yet,' Primeau recalled patients telling her, 'but I know I have it.' Interactions like these are increasingly playing out in doctor offices across the province as more people use the internet — especially social media — for medical advice, Primeau and other medical professionals said Wednesday at a virtual media briefing by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). The briefing was aimed at highlighting the risks associated with do-it-yourself medicine — warning any form of self-diagnosis comes with risks. According to a survey from the Canadian Medical Association from January, 62 per cent of Canadians reported seeing health information online before later learning it was misleading or false. That same survey found that 23 per cent of people said they'd experienced negative health reactions after following misleading information found online. 'Doctors recognize the complex circumstances that make do-it-yourself treatments appealing,' said Zainab Abdurrahman, OMA president and a clinical immunologist, during Wednesday's briefing. These reasons for seeking answers online could stem from a lack of trust between a would-be patient and medical professionals or not having access to a family doctor, Abdurrahman and other medical professionals at the briefing explained. 'But we assure patients that experts are here to help,' Abdurrahman said. Most of the misleading health information these days comes from social media, experts at the briefing said. Alyse Goldberg, an endocrinologist in Toronto, said she's seen some posts related to endocrine disorders pop up on her social media feeds after talking with her patients, highlighting how prevalent these posts can be. 'I'm not necessarily even searching for it,' she said. Experts who spoke at the briefing said that people's use of the internet to learn more about what others might be experiencing can be somewhat helpful, but encouraged those who do to always bring up their concerns with a medical professional. They stressed that medical professionals avoid judging their patients whenever social media posts come up in appointments. 'The problem which I try to avoid is the perception that we somehow know more or that there is an air of superiority,' said David D'Souza, a professor and radiation oncologist at Western University. For those who don't have a family doctor, people can also find reliable information online from health associations or by visiting a walk-in clinic. 'There are lots of avenues to still reach doctors to talk about this, even if you don't have a regular doctor,' Abdurrahman said.
Business Insider
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Africa's richest man, Dangote, announces major investment to boost rice production
Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, has announced a major agricultural investment in northern Nigeria, in partnership with the state government, to boost rice production and enhance food security. Aliko Dangote, Africa's wealthiest individual, announces a significant agricultural investment in northern Nigeria. A state-of-the-art rice mill, with a production capacity of 32 metric tons per hour, is being constructed on a 30-hectare site. The project is part of the Niger Food Initiative, aimed at improving food security and supporting local farmers. At a trade fair spearheaded by the Dangote Group, Fatima Abdurrahman, Senior Special Adviser to the President of the Dangote Group, confirmed the multi-billion naira initiative. The company disclosed that it is constructing a high-capacity rice mill with a production capacity of 32 metric tons per hour on a 30-hectare site. Abdurrahman described the project as a key component of the Niger Food Initiative, a public-private agricultural development program launched by the state government. 'As part of our commitment to advancing agriculture, we plan to establish one of the largest rice mills here in Niger State,' She said. Facility infrastructure and benefits The facility will feature 32 silos, each capable of storing 2,500 metric tons of paddy rice, and a 5.8-megawatt captive power plant to ensure uninterrupted operations. ' This state-of-the-art facility ensures high efficiency, minimal waste, and premium-quality output, ' Abdurrahman added. Beyond infrastructure, the Dangote Group will operate as a 100% off-taker for rice produced by local farmers under the out-grower scheme. The conglomerate will also be a major supplier of essential inputs, such as fertilizers and seedlings, supporting thousands of smallholder farmers across the state. She further emphasized the project's significant social and economic impact, highlighting that it will create substantial employment opportunities and strengthen the agricultural value chain. A representative of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, joined the conversation, reiterating that commercial agriculture is a major focus of President Bola Tinubu's economic development agenda. Abdurrahman concluded by describing the rice mill as a cutting-edge facility that integrates the latest milling technologies for efficient, high-quality, and sustainable production. 'Once operational, it will not only boost local rice production but also strengthen the entire agricultural value chain, from farm to market. ' she said.
CBC
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Meet the first Black woman elected to represent Ontario doctors
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) has elected its first Black woman president to advocate for the province's physicians, residents and medical students. Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, a board certified clinical immunologist and allergist, will serve as the association's 144th president and hopes to inspire others in her new role. "It feels actually, to be honest, amazing. I take on this role knowing there is added responsibility being the first Black woman," said Abdurrahman, whose father is a retired physician. "I think of every time in my office when there's a little Black girl and they get really excited when they see me. They're so excited to know they could be the doctor, so I'm hoping these opens doors and people think of all the leadership roles they can take." Her inauguration took place May 1 at the OMA's annual general meeting in London while celebrating Doctors' Day. As the new president, Abdurrahman will advocate for the more than 43,000 physicians across the province — rural, urban and remote — aiming to bring a unified voice to members with different experiences and ensure they are heard, she said. "I'm really hoping that I'll bring a unified voice to the membership," she said. "I'm also ensuring that during my term I'm going out and seeking them and trying to hear about what's happening in their communities, what's happening in their practice, what are their pain points." One of Abdurrahman's main priorities is to address the crisis in family medicine in Ontario, she said. "Every Ontarian deserves a family doctor, and this is really their gateway to all of the care — we have exceptional doctors in Ontario ... but currently the systems have underfunded them," she said. Family doctors are drowned in paperwork, she said. "We need to address that so that it's more open for everyone to consider doing comprehensive family medicine." Leading more patients to family doctors will help provide preventative care, catch health concerns early, get patients to the specialists they need and keep them out of emergency rooms, she said. "This all trickles down into affecting the entire healthcare system." Abdurrahman also wants to focus on the well-being of physicians, increasing efforts and dedicate support for mental health and well-being for physicians along with address healthcare mistrust among patients in the community at large. She will serve in a one-year term as president, and will have locum support for the year in her practice in the Golden Horseshoe region. "We're hoping that with with this next year, we're going to continue to see infusions into medicine and into family medicine," she said. "We're looking for continued advocacy and support toward that to ensure the patients of Ontario are going to get the best care and opportunities to have a family doctor."
