Author: Helen Okechukwu

Despite grappling with challenges in skilled birth attendance across Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Kwara State has recorded the lowest child mortality rate in Nigeria, according to the latest data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Speaking during the first quarterly meeting of the Kwara State Task Force on Immunization and PHC in Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State PHC Development Agency, Professor Nasirat Elelu, disclosed that the state had achieved a milestone figure of two child deaths per 1,000 live births — the lowest in the country. “For the child mortality data, Kwara recorded two out…

The Officer in Charge of the Antenatal Clinic (ANC) at Miri Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bauchi, Mrs. Umul-Khairi Musa, has encouraged pregnant mothers to take advantage of and participate in maternal and child health programmes as they enrol in antenatal care. Musa, who facilitated the cohort learning in maternal and child health, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, highlighted the importance of the organized training exercise aimed at reducing complications and improving child health. While explaining the structure of the learning approach, she disclosed that the outcomes of these educative exercises for expectant mothers…

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, in collaboration with its Joint Venture (JV) partners — NNPCL, Total Energies, and Eni — donated seven life-saving pieces of equipment, including drugs, to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria has lost over N1.3 billion to the outbreak of Tuta absoluta (Tomato Ebola) in three states

Two tax reform bills out of the four proposed by President Bola Tinubu were passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The remaining two bills—the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and the Tax Administration Bill—will be passed on Thursday. An ad hoc committee made up of senators presided over the bills to deliberate on the proposed legislation before passage. After reviewing the report chaired by Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill were passed. Read Also: Reeves North Sea tax hike hits Shell with £380m bills Meanwhile, during the committee deliberation,…

In England, a recent report has revealed a significant increase in obesity rates, with the majority of affected individuals located in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the North East—regions that dominate the top 10 local areas with the highest obesity prevalence. Obesity, which contributes to reduced life expectancy and is linked to several risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions, has evolved into a complex and global health challenge. Among the 44 local areas assessed, Doncaster, Stockton-on-Tees, and Walsall—each with 33.3% of adults below the national margin in 2018/2019—have continued to show high obesity rates…

A group of scientists has embarked on groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) research model that could predict disease and complications before an outbreak. The groundbreaking model, which uses technology similar to ChatGPT, is undergoing training using NHS data from 57 million people in England. Marked as a world first, with researchers from University College London (UCL) and King’s College London (KCL), officials said the soon-to-be-launched AI, known as Foresight, has the potential to unlock a healthcare revolution. Foresight, which will be trained using eight collected datasets, will, instead of predicting text like ChatGPT, use patient medical histories to examine potential future health…

A recent national survey in Nigeria has revealed that more than two in five working women, constituting 43.4% across regions and industries, are seeking enhanced health coverage, including breast cancer care and menopause support, among other major health issues affecting women. The publication, titled “State of Women’s Health in Nigeria Report,” by Healthtracka’s Foundation for Advocacy, Innovation and Research (FAIR), aims to understand health-related issues affecting women at work with a solution-driven approach. The study highlights the gap in current health insurance coverage, and provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and employers. It also discloses that many Nigerian women feel unsupported and…

To improve the health sector and strengthen Nigeria’s economy, the Federal Government (FG) through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has established a Ministerial Committee for the Development of the Phytomedicine Value Chain. The committee is charged with the responsibility of integrating traditional and modern medicine, including building a foundation to support herbal remedies and rural livelihoods, which aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Iziaq Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, during the inauguration of the committee, described the initiative as a testament which aims to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), economic…

To curb the rising tide of substance abuse in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that 62,595 drug suspects have been arrested between January 2021 and March 2025.  Of these, 11,628 have been successfully prosecuted and convicted, while over 10.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs were seized during the same period. The revelation was made during a high-level training workshop organized by the NDLEA for members of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), held on Tuesday, in Abuja. The event aimed to build capacity among state first ladies to champion grassroots drug control initiatives. Read Also:…