Brazil’s cities are facing an unexpected public health crisis: scorpions. Researchers have warned that the arachnids are “taking over” urban environments, with more than 1.1 million stings reported between 2014 and 2023, a staggering 250% increase over the last decade. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, a new study attributes this surge to rapid, unplanned urbanisation combined with the escalating effects of climate change. Makeshift housing in favelas, poor waste…

A study says patients with Down syndrome are prone to a higher risk of having heart disease, including stroke, with a 4.41 times higher risk of ischemic stroke and a 5.14 times higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. This research, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine on May 7, shared that the 5.14 times risk of stroke is caused by brain bleed. While the study revealed that both those with…

Despite grappling with challenges in skilled birth attendance across Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Kwara State has recorded the lowest child mortality rate in Nigeria, according to the latest data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Speaking during the first quarterly meeting of the Kwara State Task Force on Immunization and PHC in Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State PHC Development Agency, Professor Nasirat Elelu, disclosed that…

The Officer in Charge of the Antenatal Clinic (ANC) at Miri Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bauchi, Mrs. Umul-Khairi Musa, has encouraged pregnant mothers to take advantage of and participate in maternal and child health programmes as they enrol in antenatal care. Musa, who facilitated the cohort learning in maternal and child health, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, highlighted the importance of the organized…

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, in collaboration with its Joint Venture (JV) partners — NNPCL, Total Energies, and Eni — donated seven life-saving pieces of equipment, including drugs, to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

In England, a recent report has revealed a significant increase in obesity rates, with the majority of affected individuals located in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the North East—regions that dominate the top 10 local areas with the highest obesity prevalence. Obesity, which contributes to reduced life expectancy and is linked to several risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions, has evolved into a complex…

A group of scientists has embarked on groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) research model that could predict disease and complications before an outbreak. The groundbreaking model, which uses technology similar to ChatGPT, is undergoing training using NHS data from 57 million people in England. Marked as a world first, with researchers from University College London (UCL) and King’s College London (KCL), officials said the soon-to-be-launched AI, known as Foresight, has the potential…

A recent national survey in Nigeria has revealed that more than two in five working women, constituting 43.4% across regions and industries, are seeking enhanced health coverage, including breast cancer care and menopause support, among other major health issues affecting women. The publication, titled “State of Women’s Health in Nigeria Report,” by Healthtracka’s Foundation for Advocacy, Innovation and Research (FAIR), aims to understand health-related issues affecting women at work with a…

To improve the health sector and strengthen Nigeria’s economy, the Federal Government (FG) through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has established a Ministerial Committee for the Development of the Phytomedicine Value Chain. The committee is charged with the responsibility of integrating traditional and modern medicine, including building a foundation to support herbal remedies and rural livelihoods, which aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Iziaq Salako,…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sounded the alarm on global health disparities, revealing that people born in the world’s wealthiest countries can expect to live over three decades longer than those in the poorest nations. This striking revelation comes from WHO’s World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity, launched Tuesday by Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The report underlines how deeply social and economic conditions affect health outcomes…

To curb the rising tide of substance abuse in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that 62,595 drug suspects have been arrested between January 2021 and March 2025.  Of these, 11,628 have been successfully prosecuted and convicted, while over 10.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs were seized during the same period. The revelation was made during a high-level training workshop organized by the NDLEA for members…

Poor children face a stark survival disadvantage, as recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that they are 13 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday compared to those in wealthier nations. Despite the lack of a comprehensive 2025 data report, about 1.8 million child deaths could be prevented if the gap is bridged by enhancing equity between the poorest and wealthiest sectors within low- and…