Author: Helen Okechukwu

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…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has donated six gunboats to the Rivers State Police Command to strengthen security on waterways. The launching exercise took place on Tuesday, at Abonnema Wharf. Representing the IGP, Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations (DIG), Ali Ali, emphasised that the boats must be strictly used for security purposes and not for private protection services. “the IGP office was inundated with complaints from people of Bonny complaining of sea piracy armed robbery along the waterways,” Ali stated. This came following several attacks on the waterways. He stressed that a safer environment would attract investors, create…

To fulfil his lifelong dream of pursuing higher education, Adedapo Idowu, a 94-year-old man, has reportedly enrolled for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). JAMB is responsible for conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for aspiring students across Nigeria. In a featured JAMB bulletin, Mr. Idowu expressed his excitement about finally pursuing academic excellence after many years of waiting. “Age is just a number when it comes to determination. I can now attain my dream of higher education at an advanced age,” Idowu said. He praised JAMB for its…

Health experts warn that eating food exposed to flies can lead to serious health problems, including infections and diseases. Flies often land on dirty surfaces before touching food, spreading harmful germs that can make people sick. Flies move between garbage, sewage, and other filthy areas, picking up bacteria and viruses along the way. When they land on food, they transfer these germs, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), contaminated food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases each year, leading to 420,000 deaths. Children under five are the most affected, accounting for 30%…

The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOMLPforR), is adapting the National Reproductive Health Policy (NRHP) to meet local needs. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Health, aims to improve maternal and child healthcare. The state government noted on their Facebook page on Monday that the workshop held recently saw experts from various sectors to refine the policy. Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, SOMLPforR Programme Manager, emphasized its role in enhancing family planning, safe motherhood, and adolescent reproductive health. Erinosho stressed the need for training and regulating Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to reduce…

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the National Police Agency of Japan (NPA) have deepened their collaboration to tackle cybercrime, leading to the recent arrest of 11 suspects involved in online fraud. According to the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), a joint investigation between Nigeria and Japan uncovered a criminal network that targeted Japanese citizens through identity theft, romance scams, and financial fraud. This development was made known during a press briefing held on Monday. The suspects reportedly used social media, particularly Instagram, to deceive victims into sending money, which was then converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to digital wallets…

Anambra State Police Command has uncovered a child trafficking ring in an apartment located at Inland Town, Onitsha, arresting three suspects, including a fake medical doctor. The operation led to the rescuing of ten malnourished children aged between 5 and 8-year-old. Commissioner of Police (CP) Ikioye Orutugu, made this known during a press briefing on Monday. According to him, officers from the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters acted on intelligence and arrested Odinakachukwu Okorie (male), Ifunanya Ogbonna (female), and Daniel Ikebuilo (male), a fake doctor, in the apartment. The police had been monitoring Odinakachukwu following a report of a missing 6-year-old boy…

The Bayelsa State Government, in partnership with the Federal Government and Zipline, has taken a major step to improve healthcare delivery by expanding its medical drone service network. This initiative aims to ensure that remote communities receive essential medicines, vaccines, and emergency medical supplies on time. This development was shared to THE PUNCH on Sunday A new Zipline distribution centre was recently commissioned in Yenagoa, the state capital, by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and Governor Douye Diri. The facility will serve as a hub for rapid and reliable distribution of medical supplies across Bayelsa,…

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has intensified efforts to tackle illegal waste recycling and scavenging across the state, warning property owners against allowing such activities on their premises. LAWMA’s Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, stated that the agency had noticed a rise in unregulated sorting, dumping, and trading of recyclables, which not only defaces the city but also poses environmental hazards. Read Also: Lagos reaffirms commitment to youth development “LAWMA has observed a rising trend of indiscriminate waste sorting, dumping, and trading of recyclables in unauthorised locations. These activities violate the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017…