Author: Helen Okechukwu

The Global Affairs Canada Initiative has committed 15 million Canadian dollars (equivalent to $10.7 million) to support three northern states—Kebbi, Kaduna, and Bauchi. The initiative aims to strengthen Gender-Responsive Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Nutrition Services, with a strong emphasis on women, adolescents, and children. According to PUNCH Healthwise, UNICEF is providing technical assistance for the programme, while state governments will oversee its implementation through Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Speaking at a training workshop in Birnin Kebbi, UNICEF Chief Field Officer in Sokoto, Mr. Michael Juma, highlighted the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring that no child is…

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, has called for increased use of locally sourced materials in orthodontic care to reduce the high cost of treatment for patients. According to the post shared on Friday, the CMD appealed during a courtesy visit by members of the Child Dental Health Unit to the hospital’s top management committee. The visit was part of activities marking World Orthodontic Health Day, celebrated on 15 May, under the theme “Building Beautiful Smiles.” Prof. Fabamwo noted that nearly all orthodontic materials used in Nigeria are imported, which significantly…

An 11-month-old baby named Theo Taylor-Maloney drowned in a bath in Manchester after being left alone for 12 minutes. An investigation found that social services failed to respond to many warnings about neglect in the family. Theo died in October 2020, just two days before his first birthday. His parents, Jessica Taylor and Michael Maloney, were in another room using their phones while Theo was in the bath, says BBC report. Read Also: 9 MERS-Cov cases reported in Saudi Arabia, 2 dead Both parents were later convicted of neglect and given suspended prison sentences in July 2023. The family lived in…

In a historic move to combat Hepatitis C and other bloodborne diseases among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), the Society for Family Health (SFH), in partnership with the Oyo State Ministry of Health, has created the first set of harm reduction Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials in the state. These new materials were developed under the HEPC3P project through a community-centered workshop that included public and private harm reduction partners, communication experts, and members of the PWID community. Together, they reviewed old materials, found messaging gaps, and created eleven new tools designed to educate and protect drug users. The…

To improve women’s health and economic inclusion, the Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday launched the SWIFT Project — a transformative, multi-sectoral initiative. Launched at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, the SWIFT Project—Strengthening Women’s Initiatives for Family Planning and Technology, aims to bridge gaps in reproductive health access while empowering women economically through entrepreneurship, digital tools, and improved service delivery via pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs). Speaking on behalf of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi,…

The Head of the UK’s emergency medicine body has accused the government of failing the most vulnerable patients, as new data suggests more than 16,000 people may have died last year due to excessive delays in A&E departments. Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), said older and severely ill patients are being overlooked in favour of quicker wins, such as treating minor injuries, to meet relaxed performance targets. RCEM analysis indicates that in 2024, up to 320 people each week died due to prolonged waits for hospital beds. These figures were derived using a…

After a car lost control and hit six persons along G.U. Ake Roadof Rivers State, four have been confirmed dead while two are said to be receiving treatment at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). The State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a document shared with journalists, stating that the incident occurred on 12 May at approximately 11:42 p.m. Iringe-Koko said the bodies of the four persons who lost their lives at the accident scene have been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Mortuary. Read Also: Uber, Indrive, Bolt drivers, others threaten to shut…

A major outbreak of chikungunya virus has struck La Réunion, with over 47,500 confirmed cases and 12 related deaths as of 4 May, 2025. The island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, had not seen an outbreak of this scale since 2005-2006. In Mayotte, another French territory nearby, locally transmitted cases have also reappeared for the first time in nearly two decades. The chikungunya virus is spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes and causes symptoms such as fever, joint pain, headache, rash, and fatigue. Although the illness is usually mild and self-limiting, it can cause severe complications in newborns, elderly…

The WHO has urged the people of Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant over the recent outbreak of Middle East respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-Cov) in the country.

The Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of a 28-year-old male ex-convict, Olayinka Oluwaseyi, for an alleged attempted robbery in the state. Oluwaseyi had been released from prison just three months ago for a similar offence. According to a statement shared on X on Wednesday by the state police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspect, armed with a knife, was apprehended by patrol officers from the Ketu Division on May 13 at around 1:30 a.m. “His swift arrest was made possible by the timely intervention of the patrol team,” Hundeyin said in the statement.  Huneyin also revealed that the…