Gaining weight in early adulthood may be far more dangerous than previously thought, with new research revealing that becoming obese before the age of 45 significantly increases the risk of dying young. The findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, show that the earlier in life individuals become obese, the greater the long-term consequences on their health. The study, which followed 620,000 Swedish adults aged between 17 and 60, found that individuals who became obese between the ages of 30 and 45 increased their risk of early death by 52 per cent. Read Also: OHID reports significant…
Author: Helen Okechukwu
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter, has strongly condemned the stigmatisation of a deaf and mute child by women, particularly mothers, at the Azikiwe Police Division in Port Harcourt, where the child was taken for safety. In a statement jointly signed by Chairperson Susan Serekara-Nwikhana and Secretary Precious Ahiakwo-Ovie, NAWOJ expressed deep disappointment over reports that some mothers at the station mocked the child and referred to her as an “imbecile,” dismissing her as unworthy of care due to her disability. The statement read, “It is utterly disgraceful that women, who should naturally be protectors of…
To improve healthcare access and provide quality service delivery for citizens, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Health, Umma Kaltum-Ahmed, has charged newly elected members of the Expanded State Oversight Committee of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to partner and ensure funds are well managed. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the newly elected members of the committee were inaugurated on Monday by Kaltum-Ahmed in Kaduna. Kaltum-Ahmed described the inauguration as a clear step forward in Kaduna State’s efforts to improve the health of its people. She stressed the key role of the BHCPF oversight committee, created under…
The United Kingdom (UK) government has announced it will no longer allow care workers to be recruited from overseas, in a move aimed at reducing low-skilled migration. Care providers have warned that the decision could worsen the country’s social care crisis. Recent figures show a sharp drop in the number of overseas care workers, from 143,900 in 2023 to just 26,100 this year, following earlier visa restrictions that banned workers from bringing dependents. Experts say the new policy could lead to around 7,000 fewer care workers, with many providers now facing staff shortages. This, they warn, could force more home…
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the global nursing workforce has grown to 29.8 million in 2023, up from 27.9 million in 2018. However, the report shared on Monday warns that serious gaps remain between countries and regions, putting global health goals at risk. While the global shortage of nurses has reduced from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023, most nurses (78%) are concentrated in countries that represent just 49% of the world’s population. Low- and middle-income countries face challenges in training, employing, and keeping nurses, while richer countries rely heavily on…
The Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on Nigerian universities and pharmaceutical companies to work together to create new medicines and vaccines. Speaking at the 38th Prof. Victor Olufemi Marquis Memorial Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University, she said President Bola Tinubu’s ban on importing easily available products would help grow local drug production. Adeyeye stressed that strong ties between universities and industry are key to solving Nigeria’s health needs and cutting reliance on imported drugs. She said universities can help transfer knowledge, build skills, and support manufacturing through…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a woman, Ihensekhien Miracle Obehi, at the Port Harcourt International Airport of Rivers State while trying to smuggle 2.5kg of cocaine to Iran. She was caught on Sunday, 3 May, disguised in a hijab to avoid detection. According to NDLEA release on Sunday, Obehi had concealed three wraps of cocaine in her private part, two large parcels in her handbag, and swallowed 67 pellets of the drug. She claimed she was supposed to swallow 70 pellets but couldn’t ingest the last three and decided to hide them in her body. Read…
Tragedy struck a community in Rivers State as two individuals were reportedly killed in a suspected cult clash. The clash, between the Lamidian and Virus factions of the Deygbam cult group, allegedly arose from a supremacy battle and occurred in the Mile 1 and Mile 3 Diobu areas of the state capital on Saturday. According to sources, in the early hours of Saturday, a suspected cultist was ambushed and killed at the Odunezea Lane axis of Mile 3 Diobu by unknown gunmen believed to be members of a rival cult group. Read Also: Residents flee as cultists kill 19 in Rivers…
The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs La (LASODA) has partnered with the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency (LASPPPA) to promote inclusivity of People Living with Disability (PWDs) in infrastructure development across the state. This collaborative discussion was held at the LASPPPA headquarters located in Ikeja during an official visit led by the General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, recently. The aim of the visit was to discuss the strategic implementation of policies specifically designed to enhance accessibility and quality of life for PWDs during the construction of infrastructures in the state. “While promoting equitable access to services…
The United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP) has issued a stark warning that over 52 million people across West and Central Africa are at risk of acute hunger between June and August, marking one of the most severe food crises in the region’s recent history. In its latest regional assessment, WFP reports that 36 million people are already struggling to meet basic food needs. The crisis is being driven by a deadly combination of conflict, mass displacement, economic shocks, rising food and fuel prices, and increasingly extreme weather patterns. Nearly three million people are already experiencing emergency levels of food…
