Category: Health

Health

41% public water supply contaminated with faeces – FG

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has pledged to end continuous contamination of drinking water sources, as no fewer than 41 per cent of the country’s public water supply were contaminated with faeces. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said this at the launch of the “Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and Guidelines for Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Surveillance”, which was heldin Abuja on Tuesday. Utsev said the Roadmap was an opportunity to change the poor narrative of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) indices in the country. According to…

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H/Reps. urge FG to declare state of emergency in health sector

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and allocate significant votes to it in the 2024 budget estimates. This followed a motion by Rep. Fayinka Oluwatoyin, during plenary in Abuja. The Motion was titled: “Need for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) to collaborate with relevant health agencies in states and Local Governments to ensure the functionality of Primary Healthcare Centres”. The member representing Mushin Federal Constituency II of Lagos State, Oluwatoyin noted that Nigeria, being the…

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FG Okays engagement of retired doctors, nurses, others on contract basis

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has given the nod for engagement of retired health workers, mostly medical doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers, on contract basis. The Government, in a circular to this effect, said salaries of the retired health personnel re-engaged would be the same amount they were collecting before their retirement. The Ministry of Health, in a circular dated October 5, 2023, and directed to the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools, urged them to ensure compliance with an earlier…

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Diphtheria: WHO says Nigeria facing second wave of outbreak

Aminu Imam

The World Health Organisation, (WHO), says Nigeria is currently facing a second wave of the diphtheria outbreak. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by the corynebacterium species, which affects the nose, throat, and sometimes, skin of an individual. Some symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing. In a statement issued on Thursday, the health body said there has been an increase in Nigeria’s affected population with a rise in the number of confirmed cases and related deaths. The report…

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Strike Notice: Medical, Dental Consultants issue FG 21-day ultimatum

Aminu Imam

A 21-day ultimatum has been issued by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, (MDCAN), to the Federal Government to meet its demands or face industrial disharmony. According to reports, MDCAN made this known in a communique issued yesterday, at the end of its extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, which was held virtually. The communique was signed by its President, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, and Secretary-General, Dr. Yemi Raji. The NEC said it was dismayed by the non-implementation of the jointly agreed upward review of CONMESS and the introduction of…

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51 cases of new polio variant recorded in Nigeria – WHO

Aminu Imam

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said 51 new cases of Circulating Variant Polio Virus (cVPV2) have been detected in Nigeria from January to August 13 this year. WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo disclosed this during a strategic meeting in Kaduna State organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with the Sultan Foundation for traditional leaders of inaccessible communities in the North-West zone. According to him, while the disease has been detected in 15 local government areas across the country, 47 of the…

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NMA declares strike over doctor’s death in Lagos hospital

Aminu Imam

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) yesterday declared an indefinite strike over the demise of their female colleague, Dr. Diaso Vwaere. Recall that Dr Vwaere died as a result of injuries sustained when she was trapped in an elevator at the Lagos General Hospital for more than 40 minutes. In an issued statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu and Dr. Ismail Ajibowo, respectively, the NMA declared a 5-day state-wide mourning over Vwaere’s death. The association called on all doctors in the three…

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FG confirms first case of anthrax disease in Nigeria

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, yesterday officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country. According to a statement signed by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba T. Vakuru, animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, were reported to the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria on July 14. The statement reads in part: “The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located…

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JOHESU suspends strike for 21 days after meeting Tinubu

Aminu Imam

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have suspended its indefinite strike for 21 days. The suspension was announced after the leadership of the unions held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu yesterday. The Acting National Secretary, Matthew Ajirotu, in a text message, said the president promised to approve their demands. He said, “JOHESU has just suspended its strike, with a caveat to review it after 21 days”. “We met President Tinubu today (yesterday) at a 1-hour parley, and he promised to give approval to…

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Cholera threatens 1bn people from Nigeria, 42 countries – UN raises alarm

Aminu Imam

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) say 43 countries, including Nigeria, now face outbreaks as increasing numbers of cholera cases are reported. In an issued statement on Friday, the UN agencies said that after years of steady decline, cholera was making a devastating comeback and targeting the world’s most vulnerable communities. According to Head of UNICEF’s Public Health Emergency unit, Jérôme Pfaffmann Zambruni, “The pandemic is killing the poor right in front of us”. Echoing the bleak outlook, WHO data indicates that by May 2022, 15…

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