Abuja — PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua who is recuperating in a hospital bed in Jedah, Saudi Arebia has expressed sadness and disappointment over the widespread rumour of his death which rocked the nation since Wednesday; just as his Personal Physician, Dr. Salisu Banye, FWACP, has confirmed that the President is suffering from "Acute Pericarditis", (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, who read a statement titled: "President Yar'Adua's Health Condition" which was sent from Jedah by the President's Personal Physician, disclosed that the President has received the news of the rumour of his death and he felt very bad about it.

Nigerians were on Wednesday awakened by the rumour that the President who left for King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the previous day had died.

But fielding questions from reporters, Mr Adeniyi said the President is alive and responding to treatment for the ailment, assuring that he will keep Nigerians abreast of the President's health condition on regularly bases.

Narrating how the President took ill, as contained in the statement sent from Jedah, the President's Personal Physician, Dr Banye said that "at about 3:00pm of Friday, November 20th, after he returned from the Abuja Central Mosque where he performed the Juma'at prayers, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua complained of left sided severe chest pain. Preliminary medical examinations suggested ACUTE PERICARDITIS, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart)".

According to him, "it was then decided that he should undertake confirmatory checks at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he had his last medical check-up in August".

He disclosed that "the medical review and tests undertaken at the hospital have confirmed the initial diagnosis that the President is indeed suffering from ACUTE PERICARDITIS".

The Presidential Physician however assured that the President "is now receiving treatment for the ailment and is responding remarkably well".

Fielding questions from State House Correspondents on the feeling of the President over the rumour, the Presidential Spokesman said "the President is a human being, naturally he will feel bad. This is not the first time, the President was aware of the rumor. He felt bad about it as any normal human being would"; adding that there is nothing anybody can do about rumour; "what can we do, we can't legislate against rumor".

Reacting to reports that President would perform the Hajj, he said "no, it is definitely not true; even before the President travelled he knew that he was not going to perform the Hajj"; stressing that "even when I did the first draft of the statement, I stated that the President will do medicals and undergo Hajj, but he said no, I am not going to do Hajj. So there is no way he is going to do Hajj.

Asked to confirm if the President decided to travel at night because he could not walk, he said "actually what happened was that the President was supposed to leave earlier in the day but because of the holidays in Saudi Arabia they (those who travelled with him) couldn't procure his visa on time".

On the possible date of return by the President, the Presidential aide said "once I know I will tell; I will give you an update"

Investigations by Vanguard reveals that Acute Pericarditis is inflammation of the membrane (the pericardium) surrounding the heart that begins suddenly and is painful. Acute pericarditis usually results from an infection or other conditions that irritate the pericardium including disease, drugs, invasive cardiothoracic procedures, and chest trauma.

Acute pericarditis usually lasts less than six weeks. The most common symptom is a sharp stabbing chest pain on the left side of the chest, that tends to be worse when lying down, coughing, or when breathing deeply.

Acute pericarditis is the most common condition affecting the pericardium. Testing for acute pericarditis includes ECG, EKG, blood tests, CT scan, chest x-ray, echocardiogram, or an MRI.

Acute pericarditis is more common in men than women. About one in five people with acute pericarditis has a recurrence within months of the original episode.

Meanwhile, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, will today perform the receipt of the tradition of Sallah Homage, where Muslims usually pay visit to the President.

Below is the Full Text of the Statement:

PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA'S HEALTH CONDITION

At about 3pm on Friday, November 20th, after he returned from the Abuja Central Mosque where he performed the Juma'at prayers, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua complained of left sided severe chest pain. Preliminary medical examinations suggested ACUTE PERICARDITIS, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).

It was then decided that he should undertake confirmatory checks at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he had his last medical check-up in August.

The medical review and tests undertaken at the hospital have confirmed the initial diagnosis that the President is indeed suffering from ACUTE PERICARDITIS.

He is now receiving treatment for the ailment and is responding remarkably well.

Dr. Salisu Banye, FWACP

Chief Physician to the President