Author: Helen Okechukwu

With cancer remaining a leading cause of non-communicable disease-related deaths in Nigeria and globally, three cancer centres are set to be commissioned for public access in the next couple of days. This move aims to improve Nigeria’s specialized healthcare system, with 500 clinicians to be trained, 2,000 cancer patients expected to be treated, and 350,000 people to receive diagnostic services yearly. According to a Nairametrics publication on Sunday, this announcement was shared by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate’s X page. Out of the six centres announced to be established in February 2024, the three…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted no fewer than six million opioid pills—including Tamol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol—and 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup at the Port Harcourt and Apapa ports. The street value of the seizures is estimated at ₦6.52 billion. At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, NDLEA operatives, in a joint operation with Customs and other security agencies, uncovered six million opioid pills and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup in two containers on May 19 and 20. In a similar exercise at the Apapa Port, Lagos, 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered on May…

The Nigerian Senate has approved the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes the creation of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna. The bill, initiated by Senator Sunday Katung of Kaduna South Senatorial District, is intended to enhance access to specialized healthcare in a region that has long faced challenges in medical service delivery. In a statement issued after the bill’s passage, Senator Katung highlighted the importance of the proposed centre, stating that it would reduce the need for residents to travel far distances to receive adequate medical attention—a factor that often contributes to…

Over three years after the Lancet Commission on Diagnostics revealed a global crisis in diagnostic access, millions in Nigeria still lack basic tools needed to detect and treat diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes, and cancer. In 2021, the Commission found that 47% of people globally—and 81% in low- and lower-middle-income countries—could not access essential diagnostic services. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how deadly this gap can be. Countries like India and members of the African Collaborative Initiative have made progress through free diagnostic programmes. Experts say Nigeria must follow suit. “Diagnostics are foundational. Without them, our health response is reactive, not…

The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Aliyu, has urged all state governments to invest more in cancer prevention, control, and treatment to ease the burden on patients. Speaking during a visit by the Kebbi State Cancer Control Programme delegation, led by Health Commissioner Comrade Yunusa Musa Ismail and representing the Governor’s Wife, Dr. Nafisa Nasiru Idris, Prof. Malami reaffirmed NICRAT’s readiness to partner with all 36 states and the FCT. He praised Kebbi State’s efforts, noting its early establishment of a cancer control program, a 5-year strategic plan, and partnerships with…

In a determination to save millions of lives, a health organisation in the United Kingdom (UK) has raised concern over the risk of running out of blood in its bank within a few days, as many hospitals’ blood reserves run low, signalling a critical level. In response, the body responsible for donations, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), is left with no option but may activate a red alert, signalling urgency as hospitals are left with a maximum of three days to restock their blood banks, especially O-negative blood. Looking at the immediate concern, in a notice shared on a Wednesday,…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have agreed to deepen their cooperation in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking. This was the key highlight of a meeting held on 23 May, at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja between NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), and the new US DEA Country Attaché to Nigeria, Ms. Daphne Morrison. Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media & Advocacy in document shared on Friday said during the meeting, Ms. Morrison, who recently assumed duty in Nigeria, expressed her readiness to continue the strong relationship…

In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, a silent war is being waged—not just against cancer, but also against the soaring costs and systemic challenges that threaten the lives of those battling the disease. In 2020, Nigeria recorded 124,815 new cancer cases, with 51,398 in males and 73,417 in females. By 2022, the country recorded an average of 127,000 new cases and 79,000 cancer-related deaths. Breast cancer represents 27% of all cases, while cervical cancer accounts for 14%, liver cancer for 12%, prostate cancer for 12%, and colorectal cancer for 4.1%. According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH) recent data in…

A 27-year-old male suspect, Somadina Ugwueke, has been apprehended by operatives of the Enugu State Command through the support of the Nsukka Urban Division along with members of the local community. Daniel Ndukwe, the command spokesperson, said on Thursday that Ugwueke, who was involved in armed robbery activities and motorcycle snatching, was arrested on 19 May following relayed information gathered. Ndukwe recounted that the apprehended suspect, along with his accomplice, boarded a commercial motorcycle along Edim Road. Upon getting to Saint Cyprian Road in Nsukka, they both snatched the motorcycle while pointing a firearm at the motorcyclist. Read Also: Police open…

Over 10,000 residents of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area (LGA) have been educated on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) following the awareness campaign conducted by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) and the Ford Foundation. Both partners conducted this engagement through a door-to-door sensitization campaign to aid in halting the high rate of domestic and gender violence recorded, urging residents to report promptly. The campaign exercise cut across key areas within the community of Ibeju-Lekki LGA, including religious institutions, schools, healthcare facilities, and judicial centers. One of the sensitization exercises, which addressed cultural and religious dimensions of SGBV,…