Helen Okechukwu is an award-winning investigative journalist with three years experience. She specializes in health, accountability and transparency reporting.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, in collaboration with its Joint Venture (JV) partners — NNPCL, Total Energies, and Eni — donated seven life-saving pieces of equipment, including drugs, to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria has lost over N1.3 billion to the outbreak of Tuta absoluta (Tomato Ebola) in three states
Two tax reform bills out of the four proposed by President Bola Tinubu were passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The remaining two bills—the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and the Tax Administration Bill—will be passed on Thursday. An ad hoc committee made up of senators presided over the bills to deliberate on the proposed legislation before passage. After reviewing the report chaired by Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill were passed. Read Also: Reeves North Sea tax hike hits Shell with £380m bills Meanwhile, during the committee deliberation,…
In England, a recent report has revealed a significant increase in obesity rates, with the majority of affected individuals located in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the North East—regions that dominate the top 10 local areas with the highest obesity prevalence. Obesity, which contributes to reduced life expectancy and is linked to several risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions, has evolved into a complex and global health challenge. Among the 44 local areas assessed, Doncaster, Stockton-on-Tees, and Walsall—each with 33.3% of adults below the national margin in 2018/2019—have continued to show high obesity rates…
A group of scientists has embarked on groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) research model that could predict disease and complications before an outbreak. The groundbreaking model, which uses technology similar to ChatGPT, is undergoing training using NHS data from 57 million people in England. Marked as a world first, with researchers from University College London (UCL) and King’s College London (KCL), officials said the soon-to-be-launched AI, known as Foresight, has the potential to unlock a healthcare revolution. Foresight, which will be trained using eight collected datasets, will, instead of predicting text like ChatGPT, use patient medical histories to examine potential future health…
A recent national survey in Nigeria has revealed that more than two in five working women, constituting 43.4% across regions and industries, are seeking enhanced health coverage, including breast cancer care and menopause support, among other major health issues affecting women. The publication, titled “State of Women’s Health in Nigeria Report,” by Healthtracka’s Foundation for Advocacy, Innovation and Research (FAIR), aims to understand health-related issues affecting women at work with a solution-driven approach. The study highlights the gap in current health insurance coverage, and provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and employers. It also discloses that many Nigerian women feel unsupported and…
To improve the health sector and strengthen Nigeria’s economy, the Federal Government (FG) through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has established a Ministerial Committee for the Development of the Phytomedicine Value Chain. The committee is charged with the responsibility of integrating traditional and modern medicine, including building a foundation to support herbal remedies and rural livelihoods, which aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Iziaq Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, during the inauguration of the committee, described the initiative as a testament which aims to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), economic…
To curb the rising tide of substance abuse in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that 62,595 drug suspects have been arrested between January 2021 and March 2025. Of these, 11,628 have been successfully prosecuted and convicted, while over 10.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs were seized during the same period. The revelation was made during a high-level training workshop organized by the NDLEA for members of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), held on Tuesday, in Abuja. The event aimed to build capacity among state first ladies to champion grassroots drug control initiatives. Read Also:…
Poor children face a stark survival disadvantage, as recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that they are 13 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday compared to those in wealthier nations. Despite the lack of a comprehensive 2025 data report, about 1.8 million child deaths could be prevented if the gap is bridged by enhancing equity between the poorest and wealthiest sectors within low- and middle-income countries. The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health’s first report, published in 2008, aimed to reduce the gap between and within countries in life expectancy, childhood, and maternal…
The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has called for urgent reforms and increased public funding to combat Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rates. The event, which gathered stakeholders from government, donor agencies, and the health sector to discuss practical solutions for improving maternal care, particularly for vulnerable women, emphasised that accessible health insurance is key to saving women’s lives. The appeal was made at Abuja during the 7th edition of the NSSF Fireside Chat Series in Abuja, themed “Breaking Barriers to Maternal Health Equity: The Role of Health Insurance in Promoting Women’s Wellness.” NSSF CEO Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko lamented Nigeria’s maternal…
