Author: Helen Okechukwu

To check malaria scourge in Nigeria ,the FederalGovernment in partnership with some states has commenced has the first roll out of the anti- malaria vaccine.Nigeria is rated as one of the countries globallywith the highest numbers of malaria deaths.The newly approved R21/Matrix-M vaccine by the World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to protect children between the ages of 5 to 15 months.Data revealed that malaria claims the lives of a large population of Nigerians annually, which is a factor in its rise, placing the disease at the third global death record. The two states in Nigeria, Bayelsa and Kebbi, heavily hit…

The Federal Ministry of Health is partnering the United States (US) to halt the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among citizens, particularly in mothers and children. The planned partnership was sealed yesterday after a meeting in Abuja, The joint meeting highlighted the steps to eradicate HIV/AIDS targeting 2030 and achieve sustainable Nigeria healthcare service delivery. The outcome of the meeting focuses on sustainability and the 95-95-95 of people living with HIV knowing their status, those diagnosed receiving treatment, and on treatment achieving viral suppression goals. Also,highlighting the progress as the fight against HIV /AIDs…

Citing the non implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) salary adjustment, the coalition health sector unions has embarked on a three-day warning strike. Oloruntoba Odumosi, Secretary , National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Oloruntoba disclosed to reporters that the meeting held on December 9,2024 ended in a deadlock despite various ultimatums issued by the unions. Explaining the negligence of the communique issued, Odumosu said, “the government officials couldn’t give us a clear timeline for the implementation of our demands, and there’s no governor’s approval for the payment.” He acknowledged that the majority of the unionists in…

The Cross River State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, has confirmed the outbreak of suspected human African trypanosomiasis, popularly known as sleeping sickness, at Ebom Community in the Abi Local Government Area of the State He disclosed this yesterday at a Town Hall meeting held in yesterday in Calabar in company of the State’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Goddy Effah. According to him, health professionals, multiple patients have been admitted to the Primary Healthcare Centre in Ebom and the General Hospital in Ugep in connection with illness.The commissioner equally urged residents to remain vigilant to put the disease…

The chairperson of the Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman (BLPARW), Aisha Babangida, has donated funds for life-changing surgeries for over 50 children living with poor health conditions. BLPARW is a non-profit organisation (NGO)with the mandate to empower and enhance lives through healthcare, fostering economic empowerment, and promoting education.The fund was provided during the 19th annual Christmas/End-of-Year party organised by Global Initiative for Peace, Love, and Care (GIPLC) in Abuja During the programme, a substantive cheques for scholarship grants were also presented to support 10 student recipients of the 2024 GIPLC PRIME-ED (Primary Education) for five years. Also,…

The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), a federal health facility, recently became the focus of a viral social media post shared by a patient’s relative. The post revealed alarming concerns about the quality of healthcare and the conditions within the hospital. The complaint outlined several issues, including compulsory feeding, medical negligence, lack of essential facilities, and the financial struggles of patients. To investigate these claims, on November 27, 2024, a reporter from The New Daily Prime visited the hospital, interviewing patients and staff regarding the allegations. Claims of Poor Healthcare Delivery A user on X (formerly Twitter), Baridueh…

After reading about an X user, who shared a story of how her father died from heart disease at age 56 after going for replacement surgery at age 50 and the X user, bearing the same heart condition but still keeping hopes alive, I became curious to know why, how to detect a weak heart, and what to do about it. “My father suffered heart disease from birth. Had a valve replacement surgery at 50 and died of cardiac arrest at 56. I have the same thing he had, except I went into heart failure at 30, and I keep…

Memory lapses, like forgetting words or misplacing keys, may feel normal in midlife, but they could signal early changes in brain health. A Trinity College Dublin study reveals that self-perceived memory issues are more strongly linked to dementia risk factors (like loneliness or hypertension) than objective tests. The good news? More than 40% of dementia cases could be preventable. Here’s how to keep your brain sharp: Simple lifestyle changes can enhance brain health, reduce dementia risks, and help you maintain cognitive sharpness well into later life.

In the effort to address Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), the Ondo State Government has vowed to fight against its rise to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the state. On Wednesday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, made this affirmation in a one-day advocacy meeting held with stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare along with other key partners. Highlighting the importance of addressing this issue, Dr. Ajaka said controlling NTDs will lead to poverty reduction, improve health, gender quality, education, and other health benefits that align with SDGs objectives. He said the programme aims to…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the tuberculosis diagnostic test marks a critical milestone to have met the prequalification standard of the health organization. WHO made this assertion on Thursday, describing Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra as the prequalified molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) of its first kind. The notice said, “It is the first test for TB diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing that meets WHO’s prequalification standards.” WHO reported that a total of 1.25 million people died from tuberculosis (TB) in 2023, and it has been acknowledged as the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious…