Author: Helen Okechukwu

After the state experienced an outbreak in February, the Sokoto State Government announced the recording of 300 meningitis cases, with 16 persons currently undergoing treatment. While speaking at a one-day sensitization campaign held recently, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Farouk Abubakar, revealed this data, stating that others has been discharged. When the outbreak was first reported in February, the number of contacts was not made public. The campaign was organized by the State Ward Development Committee (WDC) Forum in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. Muhammad Marnona, Special Adviser on the State…

A groundbreaking new study has revealed a surprising connection between hearing loss and heart failure, urging people not to dismiss hearing difficulties as a minor issue. Researchers in China, analyzing data from 164,431 participants in the UK Biobank study, found that individuals with hearing impairment face a significantly higher risk of developing heart failure—particularly those not using hearing aids. Over a follow-up period of more than 11 years, 4,449 participants developed heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart struggles to pump blood effectively. Symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and swelling in the legs or ankles, with over a million…

Following the confirmation of a mixed-up embryo birthed by a woman in Australia at the Monash IVF clinic in Brisbane, it is said that legal action could follow over parental birth rights, sparking controversy. Monash IVF, a fertility clinic in Australia that primarily deals with embryo implantation from donors to intended parents, blamed the incident on human error. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility process in which eggs and sperm are combined outside the body in a laboratory, and the fertilized embryo is implanted into the woman’s uterus. Although the cost is exorbitantly high, IVF is not always successful.…

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, has charged all pharmaceutical firms and healthcare providers to prioritise the use of approved generic drugs. During a press briefing held on Thursday in Lagos, the NAFDAC boss, Adeyeye, reiterated the commitment of the anti-drug agency to ensuring the efficacy of generic medicines in Nigeria, which aligns with protecting lives. According to her, the aim of the initiative is to prevent the circulation of substandard drugs and enhance the quality of medicines. She said, “By mandating bioequivalence studies, NAFDAC is strengthening its…

Health experts in a new study have suggested that a new saliva at-home test may detect prostate cancer more effectively than the PSA test. Although it is not yet conclusive, it can be used as an additional screening tool. Meanwhile, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that is usually conducted to detect prostate cancer or other prostate conditions. In a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers revealed about 130 genetic variants in men that are known to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. These variants can help determine whether…

In a major step toward ending the global threat of meningitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever global guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of meningitis disease. According to WHO it aimed at improving early detection and boosting survival rates, the guidelines offer a comprehensive, evidence-based framework to reduce the devastating toll of meningitis—particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden remains highest. Despite the existence of effective treatments and vaccines for some forms of meningitis, the disease continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Bacterial meningitis—the deadliest form—can kill within 24…

Former senator and health advocate, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, has called for the urgent need for Nigeria to rely on local vaccine production, which will aid in quicker distribution, reduce costs, create jobs, and ensure availability. Oloriegbe made this call on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja, stating that vaccine financing should be substantial enough to cover logistics, cold-chain maintenance, and last-mile delivery. “Vaccines don’t walk themselves to health centers,” he noted. “The cold chain is critical. Vaccines must be stored at sub-zero temperatures and transported securely through multiple levels, from national to state, local governments, and finally to healthcare…

The Federal Government (FG) has launched a nationwide programme to train 120 young researchers under the SINCCAR programme aimed at closing critical gaps in cancer research and advanced evidence-based solutions in Nigeria. The Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Cancer Research and Implementation (SINCCAR) project is designed to enhance the capacity of researchers and improve cancer outcomes through policy reforms, sustainable institutional resources, and collaborative networks. At the opening ceremony held in Abuja on Wednesday, Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), emphasised that the project was focused on empowering the next generation of cancer…

With a 2.9% HIV prevalence rate recorded in Taraba State, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, has called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders, health workers, the public, and the state government. Expressing concerns over the rate, Ilori, on Tuesday, while launching the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric HIV Acceleration Committee (PPAC), called for urgent action, targeting the 2030 deadline. “We must work together to reduce this prevalence rate to zero,” she said. “The fight against HIV requires consistent, collective action.” The director dispelled claims surrounding the shortage of…

Nigeria is recording a positive turn in its battle against Lassa Fever, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirming only 14 new cases and three deaths in the 13 epidemiological week of 2025. This marks a significant decline compared to previous weeks, where 41 infections were reported. The latest cases were reported from five states—Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa. The affected individuals range in age from age 1 to 90, with the majority falling between age 21 and 30. Meanwhile, no new infections were reported among healthcare workers during the week. In 2025, a total…