The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a sharp rise in yellow fever cases in South America. According to the report from 29 December 2024 to 26 April 2025 (with Ecuador’s data updated to 2 May),  212 confirmed cases of yellow fever have been recorded in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Sadly, 85 people have died, giving a high fatality rate of 40%. This year’s number is three times…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two octogenarians—80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday—alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom, in a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking. Ayuba, a convicted ex-drug dealer, was arrested in Sabon Gari, Kaduna, with 2.3kg of skunk. He admitted to peddling drugs for 46 years. In Abia, NDLEA operatives raided Uloma’s home in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village, recovering methamphetamine, tramadol, skunk, and N130,600…

Nigeria Customs Service has hand over large consignment of smuggled and unregistered pharmaceutical products worth N24.6 million to the NAFDAC.

Health experts have called for urgent intervention from governments globally due to the growing number and implications of obesity, stating that 2 in 3 adults aged above 25 may become obese by 2030 if nothing is done. One of the researchers who compiled the World Heart Federation report, Mariachiara Di Cesare, a Professor of Population Studies and Global Health, emphasized the need for health systems to strengthen and provide affordable…

Health officials in the United Kingdom (UK) have issued a warning to the public about unregulated nasal tanning sprays being sold online.

The Enugu State Government has announced plans to upgrade secondary healthcare facilities across all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. The goal is to reduce maternal and newborn deaths by strengthening emergency care services. This was made known by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, during a health meeting in Enugu on Friday. The meeting focused on the findings of a health facility assessment for Comprehensive…

The Global Affairs Canada Initiative has committed 15 million Canadian dollars (equivalent to $10.7 million) to support three northern states—Kebbi, Kaduna, and Bauchi. The initiative aims to strengthen Gender-Responsive Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Nutrition Services, with a strong emphasis on women, adolescents, and children. According to PUNCH Healthwise, UNICEF is providing technical assistance for the programme, while state governments will oversee its implementation through Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Speaking…

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, has called for increased use of locally sourced materials in orthodontic care to reduce the high cost of treatment for patients. According to the post shared on Friday, the CMD appealed during a courtesy visit by members of the Child Dental Health Unit to the hospital’s top management committee. The visit was part of activities…

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abuja has successfully performed its first living-donor kidney transplant. Living-donor kidney transplant usually involves a donated kidney from someone you know. It might be a family member, friend or co-worker. The facility’s management disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. According to the statement, the surgery, which was conducted on May 6, was performed on a 69-year-old male Nigerian who suffered from end-stage renal…

An 11-month-old baby named Theo Taylor-Maloney drowned in a bath in Manchester after being left alone for 12 minutes. An investigation found that social services failed to respond to many warnings about neglect in the family. Theo died in October 2020, just two days before his first birthday. His parents, Jessica Taylor and Michael Maloney, were in another room using their phones while Theo was in the bath, says BBC…

In a historic move to combat Hepatitis C and other bloodborne diseases among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), the Society for Family Health (SFH), in partnership with the Oyo State Ministry of Health, has created the first set of harm reduction Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials in the state. These new materials were developed under the HEPC3P project through a community-centered workshop that included public and private harm reduction…

To improve women’s health and economic inclusion, the Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday launched the SWIFT Project — a transformative, multi-sectoral initiative. Launched at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, the SWIFT Project—Strengthening Women’s Initiatives for Family Planning and Technology, aims to bridge gaps in reproductive health access while empowering women economically through entrepreneurship,…