A report from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has disclosed that residents living in deprived areas in the United Kingdom (UK) recorded nearly 60% higher cancer death rates when compared to affluent regions. In the recent study titled Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic Deprivation, annually, over 28,400 deaths were attributed to deprivation in the UK. The report noted that late diagnoses and preventable risk factors such as smoking are linked…

To prevent the spread of monkeypox (Mpox) and other infectious diseases in the state, the Rivers State Ministry of Health has launched the Pox screening application (Mpox app) and inaugurated an infectious institute. The Mpox application is a state-of-the-art digital tool. The Institute of Infectious Disease Research and Development (IIDRD) was commissioned on Friday through the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). The event also saw the unveiling of the institute’s…

The Chairman of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Bauchi State Chapter, Abdulahi Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from HIV/AIDS interventions. According to the Voice of Nigeria publication, Ibrahim noted their withdrawal poses a great risk within the state and asserted that the shortage of treatment centres, lack of clinical support, and essential services can…

Rising temperature witnessed across the country has led the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to issue a warning to citizens to take precautionary measures against the heat surge effect. This was made known due to the increase in several states observing extreme heat conditions. The agency revealed this in a post shared on X on Thursday, alarming that on Wednesday, with temperatures heating 38 and 40 degrees Celsius while Yelwa recorded…

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…

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…

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 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,…

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…

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…

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…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a trans-border drug network, arresting four individuals and seizing large quantities of illegal substances in multiple operations. On 27 January, NDLEA intercepted a Sienna bus on Nasarawa-Toto road in Keffi, arresting Zahradeen Adamu, 27 and Abubakar Usman, 44 for smuggling 190,960 tramadol pills from Onitsha to Yola. Another Sienna, driven by Abba Usman, 48, was also stopped. Supplier Kingsley Mbaeri was…