Author: Helen Okechukwu

Children in England will, for the first time, be offered a free vaccine against chickenpox from January 2026, in what ministers are calling a major step to strengthen childhood immunisation. The move means the varicella jab, currently available only privately at around £150, will be included in the NHS childhood vaccination programme and given as part of a new four-in-one injection protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (MMRV). The combined shot will be administered at 12 and 18 months, replacing the existing MMR schedule. Health officials expect the rollout to cover about half a million children annually, sparing families…

A new global assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has found that one in four people worldwide remain without access to safe drinking water, despite progress in recent years. This was contained in documents shared to press men on Tuesday while nothing that the report, Progress on Household Drinking Water and Sanitation 2000–2024: special focus on inequalities, was launched to coincide with World Water Week 2025. It highlights that 2.1 billion people continue to rely on unsafe sources, with 106 million drawing directly from rivers, lakes, and other untreated surface water. Sanitation…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the circulation of falsified batches of Postinor-2, a popular emergency contraceptive pill. In a public notice released on Friday, 22 August, the agency confirmed receiving a report from the Society for Family Health (SFH), the authorised marketing company, disowning the affected batches. According to NAFDAC, the counterfeit products were identified after a careful review of packaging details which revealed spelling errors and discrepancies in the verification stickers. While the original pack carries the correct spelling and a visibly larger font on its verification sticker,…

More than half a million people in England are now living with a confirmed dementia diagnosis, the highest number on record, as the NHS rolls out new home monitoring technology to help patients stay safe and supported. Figures released by NHS England show that 506,549 people are now living with a confirmed diagnosis, up from 490,163 recorded at the same point last year. Health leaders say the milestone reflects growing awareness, earlier detection, and more families seeking medical support. In response to the rising demand, NHS hospitals are increasingly turning to new technologies designed to help patients remain at home…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a criminal network at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, after uncovering how its members planted illicit substances on unsuspecting Nigerian pilgrims who later faced detention in Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, flanked by the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr Abdul Ibrahim, and the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo, confirmed that six members of the syndicate, including its ringleader, 55-year-old Mohammed Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, were in…

Tragedy struck in Borno State on Monday when a boat ferrying farmers across the River Kubo in Shani Local Government Area (LGA) capsized, claiming three lives. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, involved about 20 farmers who were heading to their farmlands with harvested yams. According to the North-East zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 17 passengers were rescued, while three bodies were retrieved from the water. The Chairman of Shani LGA, Abdu Labaki, NEMA disclosed that the mishap was caused by overloading. “Honourable Chairman of Shani LGA said the incident occurred…

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has highlighted the value of art in promoting recovery, mental wellbeing and public health, stressing that creative expression is increasingly being recognised as a catalyst for positive change in healthcare. In a document shared on Monday, it was noted that the health commissioner underscored this on Sunday during the  opening of the inaugural Lagos Arts and Health Festival, held at the Soto Art Gallery in Ikoyi. Read Also: Diri calls on politicians to improve Nigeria’s healthcare According to him, the state is taking a holistic approach to healthcare by weaving art into…

A 17-year-old girl identified as Emma has drawn global attention after revealing her lifelong struggle with gastroparesis, a rare and often misunderstood medical condition that leaves her unable to eat food in the traditional sense. Emma, who posted her story on TikTok under the username emmakok, explained that she was born without a functioning stomach and has relied on feeding tubes since infancy. Her video, uploaded in July but gaining traction on Monday, highlights both the physical and emotional challenges of living with a condition that remains unfamiliar to many. “Hi, my name is Emma. I am 17 and I…

Britain’s growing obesity crisis is draining more than £100bn from the economy each year and placing unprecedented strain on the NHS, new research has revealed. More than a quarter of adults are now classed as obese – double the proportion recorded in the 1990s – with overall levels of excess weight now surpassing many European nations. Analysts warn that, without urgent action, the number of overweight or obese adults could climb to 43 million by the middle of the century, while childhood obesity is projected to increase by half. The consequences are already being felt in the workplace and the…

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is facing renewed criticism after it emerged that a psychiatric nurse convicted of rape was able to continue practising for more than a year, despite police alerting the regulator about the allegations. John Chukwunonso Iwuh, 54, from South Norwood in Croydon, was jailed for 16 years on 11 July after being found guilty of rape and voyeurism. He had used his position as a nurse to build trust with a woman he met on a dating app before attacking her at his home in June 2022, says The Independent report. Investigators later discovered that…