Category: Health

Maiduguri Flood: NAFDAC shuts down market over contaminated drugs

Aminu Imam
NAFDAC shuts down market

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has shut down the Gomboru drug market in Maiduguri, Borno State, where contaminated drugs were washed and sun-dried for resale following the devastating flood that hit the State. The drug agencies made this known on Thursday, in a statement posted via his official X handle, saying it has ordered the closure of the drug market after the recent flooding submerged the market, and the drugs became contaminated. NAFDAC posted: “After the recent flooding in Maiduguri that submerged the Gomboru…

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Electricity: FG approves 50% subsidy for public hospitals

Aminu Imam
FG on hospitals

…To rename Federal hospitals as ‘Specialists’ ones The Federal Government has approved a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide to reduce operational costs and ease patients’ financial burdens. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this during a visit to the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna. Dr. Alausa, while commissioning several new projects at the hospital, including an Electronic Health Records system and a solarisation project, said, “This subsidy is part of our commitment to improving healthcare delivery across the country. It will…

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Nigerian Doctors’ strike over kidnapped colleague enters day 2

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Doctors strike 750x375

National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in public hospitals seven-day nationwide strike demanding the release of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who has been in kidnappers den for over eight months, enters second on Tuesday. Popoola, a mother of five was kidnapped in official quarters at National Eye Centre, Mahuta Kaduna in the night of 27 December alongside her husband and a nephew. While her husband was released in March after the payment of the initial demanded ransom, the kidnappers are still holding the ophthalmologist and her nephew. President of…

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Mpox: NMA task C’River on strengthening surveillance

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
mpox II

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on Cross River Government to urgently enhance its surveillance mechanisms against Mpox, amidst increased vulnerability. The Cross River chapter of the association also warned that the state was more vulnerable than others. Dr Ukam Edadi, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the NMA, made the call in an interview in Calabar. The mpox virus, which initially broke out in Central Africa, has since spread to several West African countries, including Nigeria, where 39 cases have been officially recorded. Edadi emphasised the importance of proactive…

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H/Reps Minority Leader calls for ‘state of National emergency’ on cholera

Aminu Imam
H'Reps on cholera

The Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency over the cholera outbreak in the country. He made the call in an issued  statement yesterday, stressing the need for coordinated joint stakeholder action against the outbreak to nip it in the bud. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), had earlier announced the outbreak of the water-borne disease in 30 States of the federation. Chinda, therefore, stated that “the outbreak highlights critical deficiencies in public health safety…

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Hardship: ‘Adulterated foods flooding Nigerian markets’, FG warns

Aminu Imam
Adulterated foods

…Says palm oil mixed with dye, lard The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC), has raised the alarm over the increase in adulterated and contaminated foods in the markets. FCCPC Acting Executive Vice-chairman, Adamu Abdullahi,  who stated this in Abuja yesterday, said that some traders were engaging in various forms of adulteration without considering the health implications for consumers. Abdullahi said this at a one-day sensitisation for traders, farmers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the public on the forceful ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains.…

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Malaria: WHO says Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone roll out vaccine

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
malaria AND MOSQUITOE

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the Republic of Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone have launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. WHO said this in a statement as the world celebrates the 17th World Malaria Day with theme: “Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights,”. The world health body said that the vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region. “Today’s launch brings to eight the number of…

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Health Journalists get emergency hazard funds from network

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Nigerian Health minister Pate

The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN)has announced the launch of an Emergency andHazard Fund      dedicated tosupporting the Association ofNigeria Health Journalists (ANHeJ). Dr Aminu Magashi, Coordinator of AHBN, made the announcement during a roundtable with ANHeJ’s executive council in Abuja. Magashi explained that the fund aims to provide financial assistance to journalists facing personal emergencies or hazards while reporting on health-related issues. Acknowledging the risks and challenges encountered by health journalists, particularly during health emergencies, he emphasised the critical role these journalists play in disseminating accurate information to the public. He outlined the fund’s purpose as offering financial…

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Heatwave: Kano residents task on precautions

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Kano State Government has urged residents to adopt safety measures against the current heatwave being experienced in the state.The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said this in a statement in Kano. Labaran expressed concern over the excessive heat and urged residents to adopt health precautionary measures to protect themselves against negative consequences.“The excessive heat began since March this year, causing increase in malaria and mortalities. That was why the ministry embarked on investigations to unravel the cause.“Kano people are very much aware of the fact that these…

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“Tinubu having sleepless nights over pharmaceutical drugs’ price hike” – Minister

Aminu Imam

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said that President Bola Tinubu is having sleepless nights over the hike in drug prices and scarcity of essential medicines in the country. The Minister noted that the high cost of drugs and the exit of some multi-national pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria were key issues the president was working tirelessly to address. Recall that in August 2023, British multinational drug maker and biotechnology company GlaxoSmithKline announced its exit from Nigeria. Following its exit, the prices of the…

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