Author: Helen Okechukwu

With tuberculosis (TB) cases in England rising sharply for a second consecutive year, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched a call for evidence to shape its next five-year TB National Action Plan (2026–2031). The move comes amid a worrying rise in TB cases, with provisional data for 2024 indicating a 13% increase in notifications compared to 2023—marking the second consecutive year of significant growth. TB rates in England are diverging from the trajectory needed to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) elimination targets. While the country remains classified as low-incidence, the latest figures suggest it is nearing…

Following the tragic attack that occurred in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, a police officer in Kaduna State, Hadaina Hussain Dan-Taki, on Tuesday vowed to retaliate against southerners living in northern Nigeria. The incident in Uromi, which took place on Thursday, reportedly claimed the lives of sixteen northerners who were said to be en route to celebrate Sallah when they were ambushed by a mob. In a comment posted on Facebook, the police officer incited violence by suggesting that northerners would take drastic action against southerners residing in the North. He wrote: “I swear to Almighty…

As Nigeria prepares for the 2025 Global Disability Summit (GDS) in Berlin, disability rights advocates are pushing for stronger commitments that reflect the real challenges faced by persons with disabilities. The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has emphasized the need for meaningful engagement, ensuring that government commitments align with lived experiences. Unlike previous summits, where disability groups had little input, this year’s process has been shaped by direct advocacy says The Punch Health Wise. Aliyu Abdullahi, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD’s) President, described GDS 2025 as a milestone for Nigeria’s disability community. Abdullahi noted…

Some United States (US) health agency workers has received job termination emails, while some workers were restricted from accessing the building following their resumption on Tuesday. Although the number of employees that received the emails were not a certain according to a CNN report, stating the US Department of Health and Human Services are yet to comment. Recalled that on 12 March, in Atlanta, Georgia, some protesters were seen holding signs outside the organisation’s main headquarters over personnel cuts at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC). Some employees described their dismissal as unfair and a violation of due process. The…

Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko has confirmed that the General Overseer (GO) of a New Generation Church in Eagleland has been arrested by Octopus Strike Force unit (C4i) over allegations of homosexuality as an investigation is ongoing. The leader of the church known as Elijah, whose church is located at Diobu in the capital city of the state, was said to have been arrested after his videos were shared with the security team. According to the Revelation Agent report, it was revealed that the clergyman was exposed by a man who pretended to reciprocate his advances in a…

In a decisive move against oil theft, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intercepted and impounded a long container truck with an in-built storage tank carrying approximately 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil. The truck, a red-head navy blue container vehicle with registration number AGL574XY, was intercepted around the Eleme flyover in Elelewon, Port Harcourt following an intelligence tip-off. According to Commandant AS Dandaura, the operatives were swiftly deployed to the scene, but the truck’s operators abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting security personnel. Preliminary investigations indicate…

A top United States (US) health expert has issued warning that common tablets taken by millions of people in United Kingdom may increase dementia risk, particularly sleeping drugs. Dr. Amy Shah, an immunity and diet specialist trained at Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia universities, has raised concerns over the use of medications containing diphenhydramine. She made this call while urging her followers to stay away from such drugs recently. These include widely available UK brands such as Nytol One-a-Night, Boots Sleepeaze, and Panadol Night, as well as US brands like Tylenol PM, Unisom, and Benadryl. Dr. Shah’s warning comes amid mounting…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over an increasing number of dementia cases among refugees and migrants, urging swift policy interventions to eliminate healthcare barriers. Its latest report shared on 31 March, Dementia in Refugees and Migrants, underscores the need for inclusive health strategies, improved diagnosis, and better support structures. Dementia, is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities says WHO. About 57 million individuals globally suffers from dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed yearly. Marked as the seventh leading cause of death, it significantly impacts older…

The Delta State Government, through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, has ordered the withdrawal of the query issued to nursing student Osato Edobor following the circulation of a video from an event attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The school management had earlier issued a query to students after a video showed them refusing to eulogize the wife of President Bola Tinubu in a song. The query was issued on 27 March. The video emerged after Senator Oluremi attended a health programme and the distribution of 10,000 professional kits event held on March 25 in Asaba,…

The Rivers State Police Command has issued a stern warning to the public, urging citizens to avoid any actions that could disrupt the prevailing peace and security in the state. This came after the confirmation of the invitation of Mr. Nubari Saatah, President of the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). This was made known through a release made available to journalists on Thursday. Saatah was invited for questioning after he called for a public protest in the state. “This invitation became necessary due to the NDC’s persistent and emphatic calls for public protests within…