Category: Health

Health

M-pox vaccination to begin on Oct. 8 – NPHCDA

Aminu Imam
FG on M pox3

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), has announced that Mpox vaccinations in Nigeria will tentatively commence on October 8, 2024. Its Head of Public Relations, Remi Adeleke, disclosed this on Friday, stating that vaccine deployment is scheduled between October 3 and 6, 2024. This timeline aligns with the three to six weeks required by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to complete regulatory procedures, including sampling, traceability, and laboratory analysis. Given the limited availability of doses—only 9,980 of the Jynneos Mpox vaccine—Adeleke explained…

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Sokoto: ‘Nutrition supplements stolen, replaced with stones’, UNICEF alleges

Aminu Imam
UNICEF alleges

The United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) has lamented that nutrition supplements meant for malnourished children in some communities in Sokoto State are being stolen and sold in the market. UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, Micheal Juma, expressed concerns over the theft of the items during the quarterly policymakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto. Juma, who was represented by Abraham Mahama, noted that the nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centers in different communities aimed at enhancing the lives…

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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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Poor Service Condition: ABUTH Zaria Resident Doctors Embark on Strike

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Nigerian Health minister Pate

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) , Zaria have down tooled for a three days warning strike over non-payment of outstanding emoluments and poor conditions of service. Speaking with Liberty News via phone, the Public Relations Officer of the association, Doctor Imrana Sani Abdulazeez said the strike becomes imperative after the expiration of one week ultimatum given to the management of the hospital. Dr. Abdulazeez said on 14th July, 2024 the association had an emergency congress where the issues…

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‘Nigerians spend estimated $1bn yearly on medical care abroad’

Aminu Imam
Medical tourism

Nigerians spend an estimated $1 billion yearly on medical care abroad for conditions that can be effectively treated within their country, the Chief Consultant Orthopeadics Surgeon and Chief Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Christopher Otabor, has said. Otabor spoke after he was conferred with an ‘African Medical Practice and Leadership Excellence Award’ for his outstanding investment in Nigeria’s healthcare system by Africanstride International magazine, in Abuja at the weekend. He said there was the need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure in the country if the nation was…

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World Health Organisation announces global resurgence of cholera, as 1,900 die from disease

Aminu Imam
WHO on cholera

The World Health Organisation, (WHO), has announced a rapid rise in cholera in several regions of the world, with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of this year. WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region reported the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the Southeast Asia Region, and the European Region. The organisation, in an issued statement on Thursday, stated that there are no reported cases in the Western Region, according to its bulletin released on Wednesday.…

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Resident doctors threaten strike over allowance

Aminu Imam
Doctors strike 750x375

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, (NARD), has issued a two-week ultimatum to Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Managing Directors (MDs) to pay the accoutrement allowance owed to their members, saying failure to meet this demand will result in a nationwide strike. This directive was part of a communiqué released following NARD’s general meeting in Kaduna. The communiqué was signed by its President; Dr. Dele Abdullahi Olaitan, Secretary-General, Dr. Anaduaka Christopher Obinna, and  Public and Special Secretary, Dr. Egbe John Jonah, Key points from the meeting include: Ultimatum for Allowance…

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‘700 newborn babies die daily in Nigeria’ – Uba Sani 

Aminu Imam
Kaduna APC candidate Uba Sani votes in Kawo

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, said estimated 700 babies die every day in the country, underscoring the urgent challenge of high maternal and child mortality rates in Nigeria. He stated this yesterday while commissioning a newly-built Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant and Neonatal Unit at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, aimed at reducing the State’s contribution to neonatal mortality. Governor Sani, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, said these projects are a direct response to the State’s efforts to address the alarming neonatal mortality rates. He said,…

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Lassa fever: NCDC records 832 cases, 152 deaths in four months

Aminu Imam
Lassa fever

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), says it recorded 5,669 suspected Lassa fever cases and 152 deaths, with a Case Fatality Rate of 18.3 percent. According to the ‘Lassa Fever Situation Report’ posted on its website on Monday, the NCDC said 832 cases were confirmed from the suspected cases from 27 states across 126 local government areas from January to April 14, 2024. According to the World Health Organisation, (WHO), Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the…

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‘44 out of 100 new-borns die in Sokoto’ – FG

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has raised the alarm over maternal and infant mortality in Sokoto State, saying 44 out of 100 newborn babies in the State die. The Special Adviser in-charge of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health, Salma Ibrahim, made the recommendation on Thursday, during a courtesy call on Governor Ahmed Aliyu. She disclosed that Sokoto State still has the highest burden of maternal and infant death in the country; and therefore, sought home-grown solutions to maternal and infant fatality in and across the State. “Most of the new-born deaths…

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