Author: Helen Okechukwu

Despite ongoing efforts to improve maternal and reproductive health, the Saif Advocacy Foundation (SAIF), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has called for greater community involvement to reduce maternal mortality in Gombe State. SAIF Programme Officer, Hajiya Farida Dunama, emphasized that comprehensive education at the grassroots level is crucial for lowering maternal mortality and improving healthcare outcomes for women. While calling for an awareness campaign, Mr. Alhassan Yahya, the Executive Director of SAIF, explained the importance of antenatal care (ANC) services for the health of women and unborn children. He stressed that before delivery, expectant mothers should visit the hospital for check-ups…

The former governor of Oyo State, late Abiola Ajimobi’s first daughter, Bisola Kola-Daisi, has passed away at the age of 42 in the United Kingdom (UK). The news of her death was shared on Thursday via social media. According to reports, she passed away after a brief illness. The late Mrs. Bisola was married to Kolapo Kola-Daisi and is survived by three children. She served as a Special Adviser to the Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu. The late special adviser was the Managing Director of Grandex Nigeria Ltd., a leading FMCG retail and wholesale chain established in 1984.…

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, on Wednesday confirmed that a 25-year-old female National Youth Service Corps member (name withheld) lost her life to Lassa fever. This comes after the Commissioner for Health declared an outbreak of the hemorrhagic viral fever in the state on Tuesday. It was gathered that on March 18, the 25-year-old woman, who had fallen ill in Ondo State, was later hospitalized at one of the state’s secondary health facilities in Ijebu North Local Government Area (LGA), where she succumbed to Lassa fever. Coker said, “The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth…

Oyo State Government has ramped up disease surveillance and vaccination efforts to combat the outbreak of diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection, as part of an urgent public health response. During a visit to the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Ibadan, the state capital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, emphasized the dangers of diphtheria and its rapid transmission. She explained that the disease spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, as well as direct contact with infected wounds. “Diphtheria primarily affects the throat and upper airways, forming a thick greyish membrane that can obstruct breathing,” Ajetunmobi stated.…

Rivers State Command has announced the apprehension of four suspects for allegedly killing two minors for ritual purposes. The incident reportedly occurred at Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The spokesperson for the state command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that the two deceased minors, aged seven, Chizaram Onuche and Chidinma Onuche, were said to have been lured to the location of Aniekan Uko, 27. Further disclosure noted that Uko, after drugging both minors with a drink known as Black Bullet as a sedative, slaughtered them and drained their blood into a bottle. However, the bodies of the…

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called for a strategic shift in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, moving away from fear-based messaging to a more inclusive and stigma-free approach. The agency’s Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu of National Orientation Agency (NOA), emphasized the need to reframe HIV/AIDS as a manageable health condition, akin to hypertension and diabetes, rather than a death sentence. Speaking during a visit at the agency’s headquarters by the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, Issa-Onilu reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to leveraging its extensive grassroots network to amplify HIV prevention, treatment, and anti-discrimination…

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) launched a public awareness campaign in Kaduna State to educate residents on the health risks of tuberculosis (TB), urging early detection, treatment, and preventive measures to curb its spread. Kadashi Initiatives on Equity, Health, Empowerment, and Education (KIEHEE) emphasized that healthy living—practicing abstinence from smoking and alcohol, along with proper dieting—helps prevent the spread. In marking this year’s World Tuberculosis Day, the Executive Director of KIEHEE, Amos Kadashi-Isuwa, on Monday educated residents on the disease’s risks, symptoms, and prevention, particularly among smokers. The targeted communities are Kanti Agah, Sabon Tasha, Angwan Durunwa, Tsauni, and Kurah in…

The Rivers State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order, as Commissioner of Police (CP) Olugbenga Adepoju commended the joint security forces for their efforts in ensuring peace across the state. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, CP Adepoju emphasized that ongoing security operations are crucial to preventing a breakdown of law and order. He noted that the joint patrols by the police, armed forces, and other security agencies have been effective in deterring criminal activities. He assured residents that these security measures are temporary and will lead to a more peaceful environment. However, it…

Nigerian authorities have arrested a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms. Neetu Neetu, with 72 parcels of heroin weighing 11 kilograms at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano State. The illicit drugs, concealed inside factory-sealed wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates, were discovered in her luggage following a thorough search and credible intelligence. On 14 March, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Neetu in the arrival hall during inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha. In another effort to crackdown drug peddlers, Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy,…

Effiong Bassey, a police officer serving at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Atakpa, Calabar, Cross River State has been arrested for allegedly shooting sporadically and killing a citizen. The horrific event was said to have occurred on Sunday at approximately 05:55 hrs after Bassey returned from his night duty at Ekondo Microfinance Bank, displaying unusual behavior. Ugbo Irene, spokesperson of the Cross River State Police Command, shared that Bassey refused to hand over the AK-47 rifle assigned to him and restricted access to the entrance and exit routes of the police premises. Irene also revealed that peaceful dialogue to resolve…