Author: Helen Okechukwu

A report from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has disclosed that residents living in deprived areas in the United Kingdom (UK) recorded nearly 60% higher cancer death rates when compared to affluent regions. In the recent study titled Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic Deprivation, annually, over 28,400 deaths were attributed to deprivation in the UK. The report noted that late diagnoses and preventable risk factors such as smoking are linked to increased factors. The report highlighted ongoing disparities in cancer care and outcomes between wealthy and deprived communities. According to Naser Turabi, CRUK’s director of Evidence and Implementation, little progress…

To prevent the spread of monkeypox (Mpox) and other infectious diseases in the state, the Rivers State Ministry of Health has launched the Pox screening application (Mpox app) and inaugurated an infectious institute. The Mpox application is a state-of-the-art digital tool. The Institute of Infectious Disease Research and Development (IIDRD) was commissioned on Friday through the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). The event also saw the unveiling of the institute’s handbook. The centre was established to improve disease surveillance and management, indicating a significant advancement in the state health sector and all of Nigeria. At the launching ceremony, dignitaries from…

No Roof, No Water, No Chairs’ – Rivers State Parents Speak Out on Rivers’ School Disaster Rivers State, one of the oil-rich states in Nigeria, ranks among the top four states receiving the highest federal allocations. Accordingly, Rivers State receives more than ₦ 426.84 billion federal allocation every month. Despite these huge resources, our reporter reveals that many public primary and secondary schools in the state remain in a deplorable and abandoned state. By way of emphasis, in 2024, the Rivers State’s budgetary allocation to the education sector stood at N 40. 426 billion, but sadly, many of the state’s…

The Chairman of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Bauchi State Chapter, Abdulahi Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from HIV/AIDS interventions. According to the Voice of Nigeria publication, Ibrahim noted their withdrawal poses a great risk within the state and asserted that the shortage of treatment centres, lack of clinical support, and essential services can lead to the spread of the disease. While issuing a warning, emphasised the lack of treatment could result in drug resistance and complications. “We have more than 22,000 volunteers in…

Rising temperature witnessed across the country has led the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to issue a warning to citizens to take precautionary measures against the heat surge effect. This was made known due to the increase in several states observing extreme heat conditions. The agency revealed this in a post shared on X on Thursday, alarming that on Wednesday, with temperatures heating 38 and 40 degrees Celsius while Yelwa recorded 40 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature. NiMet acknowledges that the air temperatures might remain at this level, showing the possibility to increase in some notable areas. However, the moisture…

After a violent attack that claimed 20 lives in Mbaa community, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has withdrawn corps members from the area. The attack was suspected to have been perpetrated by herders. On Thursday in a statement released in Makurdi, the NYSC’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations in Benue State, Yahuza Adamu, confirmed the evacuation. Due to the security threat, Adamu said the decision to withdraw corps members was made, reaffirming the NYSC’s commitment to their security and safety. The statement read: “Since the beginning of incessant attacks on…

The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to training 28,000 female students across 70 public secondary schools located in the state’s three senatorial districts. This was revealed in a post shared on Thursday via the state government’s Facebook page. In partnership with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development aims to achieve this initiative. The five-day workshop, titled “Digital Literacy Skills Programme for Educators and Secondary School Girls,” was declared open at Bovina View Hotels. While explaining the initiative’s objectives, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, the State Commissioner…

The Defence Headquarters has revealed that over 12,000 ex-insurgents along with their families has surrendered to the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme since its launched. The 12-months programme is conducted under the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) initiative. 789 former insurgents are currently enrolled into the programme. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, disclosed this at the OPSC Stakeholders Meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday. Represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde, Musa stated that the military is preparing to reintegrate 381 ex-Boko Haram fighters back into society. Read Also:…

Health officials in the Gaza Strip are launching an emergency polio vaccination campaign from February 22 to 26, 2025, to protect children from the virus. The campaign will provide the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to over 591,000 children under the age of 10, following the recent detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples. This information was shared today on World Health Organisation (WHO) website. The presence of poliovirus in the environment poses a serious risk to children, especially in Gaza’s overcrowded shelters and areas with damaged water, sanitation, and hygiene systems. With extensive population movement following the current…

Over 345,000 pupils across public primary and secondary schools in Osun State are expected to undergo free eye care screening. The screening exercise will be conducted at the Imole School Eye Health Programme and will commence on 25 February. On Tuesday, Dr. Rasaq Akindele, the Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency, noted that beneficiaries will undergo comprehensive eye screening and examinations. Among the services to render during the exercise are treatment for refractive errors, provision of corrective spectacles, and medications. Read Also: NNPC launches free cancer screening campaign, targets 3,000 Nigerians Akindele added, “Those whose conditions necessitate surgical…