Category: Health

Health

Lassa fever, meningitis kill 366 in 24 states – NCDC

Aminu Imam
NCDC on Lassa

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC), has reported a total of 366 deaths from Lassa fever and meningitis in the country, highlighting the continued public health challenge posed by these diseases. From January 1 to May 18, 2025, the NCDC confirmed 733 cases of Lassa fever from 5,118 suspected infections across 18 states and 95 local government areas. Within the same period, the country recorded 141 Lassa fever-related deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 19.2 percent. Separately, between September 30, 2024, and April 6, 2025, the…

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“Anti-microbial resistance deadlier than HIV, TB, malaria’ – NCDC

Aminu Imam
NCDC warns

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC), has raised the alarm over the growing threat of Anti-microbial Resistance. The NCDC described AMR as a ‘silent killer’ deadlier than malaria, Tuberculosis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) combined. The NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, said this in an interview with the yesterday in Abuja, highlighting the urgent need to tackle the global health threat, which many Nigerians remained unaware of. Idris said, “AMR is a silent killer. It kills more than the combination of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS together.…

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‘14.3m Nigerians engage in drug abuse’ – NAFDAC DG

Aminu Imam
NAFDAC DG

Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has said that about 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse. Adeyeye stated this at the inaugural ceremony of the agency’s youth programme, tagged: ‘Catch Them Young’, held at the Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, River State, on Wednesday. According to her, research findings show that one out of every four high-risk drug users has been arrested for drug-related offences, adding that that the arrest included: 73% for drug possession, 12% for theft,…

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NAFDAC seals warehouse over ₦75m worth of expired products in Kaduna

Aminu Imam
NAFDAC seals warehouse

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has sealed a warehouse in Kaduna after discovering expired food and cosmetic products valued at ₦75 million. The warehouse, known as Amanat.com, is reportedly located on PP2A Bayajidda Street, near Kano Road and New Ogbomosho Road, in the metropolis. In an issued statement on Tuesday, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Muhammed, revealed that the agency’s action followed a tip-off from a concerned Nigerian citizen. It was gathered that a surveillance operation, led by NAFDAC’s investigation team, revealed…

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Zamfara: FG alerts public to Anthrax outbreak 

Aminu Imam
FG alerts on Anthrax2

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of Anthrax, a zoonotic disease, in Zamfara State. Director, Information and Public Relations Department in the ministry, Ben Goong, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said that the outbreak occurred in a farm in Zamfara. Anthrax is an infection caused by bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can affect warm-blooded animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses and wildlife, as well as humans with potential high morbidity and mortality. The disease could be spread through contact with…

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Primary Health Care: Kaduna emerges ‘Best State’ in N’West region

Aminu Imam
Kaduna emerges Best State

By AbdulAzeez Ahmed-Kadir Kaduna State has emerged the best performing state in Primary Health Care in the North-West region, underscoring Governor Uba Sani’s strong commitment to transforming the health sector. The Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who received the international recognition and a cash prize of $500,000 on behalf of the Government, stated that the award is a testimony of the Governor’s  exceptional health-care investments and leadership. “For Kaduna State, the award represents more than just financial recognition. It stands as a testament to the State’s dedicated health team and…

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FG plans mass purchase of essential drugs for Nigerians

Aminu Imam
FG plans drugs purchase

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, says the Federal Government is in the process of pool-procuring essential medicines to ensure quality, availability, and affordability of drugs in public facilities. Pate, who said this on Thursday in Abuja at an event held in commemoration of the Universal Health Coverage Day, with the theme: ‘Health on the house of government’,  noted that the three-year ‘Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value-Chain’ was unveiled a year ago to save lives, reduce physical and financial pain, and produce health…

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Cholera cases in Nigeria surge to 14,237, with 378 deaths

Aminu Imam
Cholera cases

The number of cholera cases in Nigeria has surged to 14,237, with 378 deaths recorded since January 2024, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC). This marks a nearly 300% increase, when compared to the over 3,500 cases reported during the same period last year. The NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, during a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said the outbreak has affected 35 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 339 local government areas, saying the current case fatality ratio (CFR) stands at approximately 2.7%.…

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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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