Author: Helen Okechukwu

Nigeria is set to commence domestic production of insulin following a new partnership aimed at cutting down the country’s dependence on imported drugs and improving access to diabetes treatment. Cleveland Clinic described insulin as an essential hormone. It helps the patient’s body turn food into energy and manages your blood sugar levels. The move follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Limited of China. The agreement, endorsed in Abuja, is regarded by officials as a major breakthrough for the nation’s health and science sectors.…

A nasal spray already available for allergy relief may also lower the chances of catching COVID-19 and common colds, according to new clinical trial results from Germany. In Jama Internal Medicine publication, researchers tested azelastine, an over-the-counter antihistamine spray, in a mid-stage trial involving 450 volunteers. Participants were randomly assigned either the active spray or a placebo and instructed to use it three times daily for nearly two months. By the end of the study, infections were noticeably lower among those who used azelastine. Only 2.2% of people in this group tested positive for COVID-19, compared with 6.7% in the…

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described the trend as “deeply concerning,” warning that “nutrition services must be protected” if children are to have a chance of survival.

Gombe State has been selected to pioneer Nigeria’s transition to digital birth registration, with health officials and ward representatives undergoing specialised training to drive the initiative. The programme, introduced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the National Population Commission (NPC), is designed to provide every child with a recognised legal identity from birth. It also links the registration process with National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment, strengthening Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. At a three-day Train-the-Trainers exercise, participants drawn from 114 health facilities and 114 wards across the state were equipped with digital devices…

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, has launched a programme offering free eye treatment and surgeries to 5,000 patients.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, will respond in due course to recent comments made by former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal, his senior aide has said. Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, stated on Monday that the minister would not leave Tambuwal’s criticism of him and President Bola Tinubu unanswered. Tambuwal, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today last Friday, said his political decisions were guided by principles rather than personal relationships. He added that, if forced to choose, he would back former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over Wike in a presidential…

The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has ordered a discreet investigation into the discovery of a decomposing body inside a vehicle parked at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. The body of the yet-to-be-identified man was discovered on Sunday morning in a red Peugeot 406 with registration number BWR-577 BF, stationed outside the annexe gate of the legislative complex. Sources within the Assembly suggested that the deceased was one of the labourers engaged at a construction site within the premises. Read Also: El-Rufai accuses Kaduna Police of misconduct, files complaint with PSC The body was initially moved to…

As the global community marks International Literacy Day (ILD), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged governments across the federation to intensify efforts in reversing the country’s alarming education crisis. In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Achike Chude, the NUJ described the annual observance as an opportunity for sober reflection on the state of literacy in Nigeria. It warned that unless urgent measures are taken, millions of children will remain deprived of access to quality education, undermining the nation’s development prospects. The Union expressed dismay at findings in UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report, which showed that 251…

A major push to strengthen West Africa’s defences against Lassa fever began on Monday as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) opened the second Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Obesity specialist Louis Aronne has welcomed the arrival of a new weight-loss pill, saying it could give patients who prefer oral medication the same benefits as injections without loss of effectiveness.