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Category: Health

  • Ohaukwu LG Chairman Ituma breaks ground for modern diagnostic centre, blood bank

    Ohaukwu LG Chairman Ituma breaks ground for modern diagnostic centre, blood bank

    LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Paul Ituma Eze, has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for an ultra-modern reference diagnostic centre and blood bank in the Ezzangbo axis of the council area.

    Eze, a medical laboratory scientist, announced the development in a statement issued on Monday, describing the project as a significant step towards improving healthcare delivery, particularly for pregnant women, children and rural residents.

    He said the initiative aligns with the People’s Charter of Needs Agenda of Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, which prioritises accessible, affordable and quality healthcare.

    According to the chairman, the centre will provide essential laboratory services, including haemoglobin estimation, foetal haemoglobin (HbF) testing where indicated, blood grouping, genotype screening, malaria testing and other antenatal investigations to support the early detection of pregnancy-related complications.

    The facility will also have modern ultrasound scanning machines to assess foetal development, identify high-risk pregnancies and facilitate timely medical intervention, with the aim of reducing maternal and infant mortality.

    Eze said the blood bank would provide access to safe, compatible blood for childbirth emergencies and other life-threatening medical conditions.

    He added that the project complements maternal and child welfare initiatives associated with the pet projects of the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru.

    The chairman reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to translating the state’s healthcare priorities into practical, life-saving services for residents of Ohaukwu.

  • Lagos Government urges residents to prioritise mental health, check on others

    Lagos Government urges residents to prioritise mental health, check on others

    LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Government has urged residents to pay greater attention to mental health, support people facing emotional challenges and encourage those who need help to seek professional assistance.

    The government made the call in a statement on Saturday to mark World Mental Health Day, stressing that emotional struggles are not always visible and that people who appear happy may still be experiencing difficulties.

    It noted that mental health challenges have often been overlooked in Nigeria, with people experiencing emotional distress sometimes told to be strong, pray harder or simply get over their struggles.

    The government said stigma and the reluctance to discuss mental health had prevented some people from seeking the support they need.

    However, it noted that awareness was growing and more people were speaking openly about mental health, while stressing the need for continued efforts to create an environment where people can seek help without fear of judgement.

    The statement identified work demands, family responsibilities, financial pressure and personal difficulties as some of the challenges that can affect people’s emotional well-being.

    It urged residents to listen to others without judgement, create safe spaces for honest conversations and recognise that seeking help is not a sign of weakness.

    The government also encouraged residents to check on friends, relatives, colleagues and neighbours, offering support where possible and directing those in need to appropriate sources of help.

    “A simple conversation can mean more than you realise,” the statement said, urging residents to make genuine efforts to ask others how they are doing and take time to listen to their responses.

  • Ohaukwu LG Chairman applauds Nwifuru over free health screening, surgery

    Ohaukwu LG Chairman applauds Nwifuru over free health screening, surgery

    ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Paul Ituma Eze, has commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for providing free medical screening and medically indicated surgeries to residents of the council area.

    Eze said the intervention would improve access to healthcare, particularly for residents of rural communities, and aligns with the governor’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.

    In a statement titled “Healthy Families Are the Foundation of a Prosperous Community,” the council chairman described the programme as a significant step towards giving men’s health, particularly in rural communities, greater attention.

    “I sincerely thank His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for making both screening and medically indicated surgery in this exercise free of charge,” Eze said.

    He also commended the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekuma Moses, and Dr Ifeanyi Edeaja, coordinator of #FON_Medic and a medical officer at General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, for their roles in the programme.

    Eze highlighted the availability of telescopic prostate surgery at General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, describing it as a procedure used to treat urinary obstruction caused by an enlarged prostate without an external incision.

    He urged residents experiencing difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or persistent discomfort to seek medical attention promptly, warning that an inability to urinate requires urgent medical care.

    The council chairman also advised residents against self-medication and encouraged them to consult qualified healthcare professionals about screening, including before symptoms develop.

    “A healthier Ohaukwu strengthens our families and our future. Let us embrace health education, seek care early and encourage our fathers and brothers to access available services,” he said.

    Eze assumed office on September 1, 2026, after Governor Nwifuru swore him in alongside the chairman and vice-chairman of the13 local government areas in the state.

    Since assuming office, he has visited health facilities and schools across Ohaukwu to assess their condition as part of efforts to identify areas requiring intervention.

    The inauguration ceremony was held at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki and attended by government officials, political leaders and other dignitaries.

  • Uganda vaccinates more than 8.2 million children in Measles-Rubella Campaign

    Uganda vaccinates more than 8.2 million children in Measles-Rubella Campaign

    KAMPALA, Uganda (NPA) — Uganda has vaccinated more than 8.2 million children against measles and rubella, exceeding the national target by nearly 670,000 children during a five-day vaccination campaign.

    The Ministry of Health said 8,285,835 children aged between nine and 59 months received the measles-rubella vaccine during the campaign held from October 1 to 5, 2026.

    The figure represents 108.8 per cent of the national target of 7,616,746 children, meaning an additional 669,089 children were reached beyond the initial target.

    The campaign provided an additional dose of the measles-rubella vaccine to eligible children, including those who had previously received the vaccine, as part of efforts to strengthen protection against the diseases amid ongoing outbreaks.

    According to the Ministry of Health, the campaign was supported by health workers, Village Health Teams, district teams and community mobilisers who travelled to remote communities and navigated difficult terrain to reach children.

    The ministry also acknowledged parents and caregivers who brought their children for vaccination, as well as local leaders, schools, religious and cultural institutions, development and implementing partners and the media for supporting the exercise.

    Although the mass vaccination campaign has ended, the Ministry of Health said efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases would continue.

    Parents and caregivers have been urged to ensure their children remain up to date with routine immunisations.

    Those whose children missed the campaign have also been advised to contact the nearest health facility for guidance on vaccination.

  • NCDC heightens vigilance after imported Ebola case confirmed in Kenya

    NCDC heightens vigilance after imported Ebola case confirmed in Kenya

    ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) —The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has heightened vigilance following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola disease in Kenya, amid an ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    The NCDC said it was closely monitoring developments in the DRC and assessing the potential implications for Nigeria after Kenya confirmed the imported case on October 6, 2026.

    In a statement signed by its Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, the agency said the case was linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC and highlighted the risk of international transmission through travel and population movement.

    According to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the confirmed case involved a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the DRC.

    The individual reportedly travelled by road from the DRC to Kampala, Uganda, before flying to Nairobi, Kenya, where the person was isolated and subsequently tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus.

    The patient later died, while Kenyan health authorities have commenced contact tracing and other public health response measures.

    The NCDC stressed that, as of October 6, 2026, there is no confirmed case of Ebola disease in Nigeria.

    The agency said Nigeria had been strengthening its preparedness for Ebola since the outbreak was first reported in the DRC, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services, state governments, development partners and other stakeholders.

    The preparedness measures include strengthening early detection, isolation and referral of suspected cases, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention and control, contact tracing, risk communication and protection of healthcare workers.

    The NCDC also conducted a National Ebola Preparedness Tabletop Simulation exercise to test the country’s response arrangements and identify areas requiring further improvement.

    Following the confirmation of the imported case in Kenya, the agency said it was reviewing the risk to Nigeria and its existing preparedness measures to ensure they remain appropriate to the changing regional situation.

    It added that preparedness measures would be strengthened or adapted where necessary in collaboration with national and subnational authorities and partners.

    Advice to Nigerians

    The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant and advised members of the public to:

    • Practise regular hand hygiene with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
    • Avoid direct contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone who is ill, particularly people showing symptoms suggestive of Ebola.
    • Avoid contact with the body of anyone who has died from an unknown illness.
    • Avoid handling sick or dead wild animals and consuming raw or improperly prepared bushmeat.
    • Seek medical care promptly at a recognised health facility if unwell, particularly after recent travel to an affected country or area or contact with someone suspected or confirmed to have Ebola.
    • Provide healthcare workers with accurate information about recent travel, particularly travel to countries reporting Ebola cases, as well as any possible exposure to a suspected or confirmed case.
    • Rely on information from the NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other official public health authorities, while avoiding the spread of unverified information.

    Advice to healthcare workers

    Healthcare workers in public and private health facilities have also been advised to maintain a high index of suspicion when assessing patients with compatible symptoms and a history of travel to an affected country or area, or other relevant exposure, within the preceding 21 days.

    The NCDC warned that the early symptoms of Ebola can resemble those of other common febrile illnesses and urged healthcare workers not to wait for bleeding before considering Ebola in patients with compatible symptoms and relevant epidemiological histories.

    Healthcare workers are advised to:

    • Apply standard precautions consistently to all patients.
    • Immediately isolate any suspected Ebola case and apply appropriate transmission-based precautions alongside standard precautions.
    • Use the required personal protective equipment when managing suspected cases.
    • Notify relevant public health authorities through established surveillance channels.
    • Maintain appropriate precautions until the patient is safely handed over to the designated public health team for further assessment, testing and management.

    Advice to travellers

    Travellers to and from affected areas have been advised to remain vigilant and familiarise themselves with the symptoms of Ebola disease.

    The NCDC advised travellers to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving an affected area, particularly if they may have been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case.

    Anyone who develops symptoms during the monitoring period should avoid unnecessary contact with others and immediately contact the appropriate public health authorities or seek care at a recognised health facility, while clearly disclosing their travel and possible exposure history.

    The NCDC said it would continue to monitor developments in Kenya, the DRC and other affected countries and work with national, regional and international partners to assess the implications for Nigeria and strengthen the country’s preparedness where necessary.

  • NAFDAC DG advocates stronger continental cooperation on food safety

    NAFDAC DG advocates stronger continental cooperation on food safety

    CAIRO, Egypt (NPA) — The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for stronger regulatory cooperation and coordination among African food regulatory authorities.

    Adeyeye made the call while participating in the Third African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) in Cairo, Egypt, where she spoke on the theme, “From Regional Economic Communities to a Continental Platform.”

    She emphasised the need for a more coherent continental regulatory approach to address shared food safety challenges arising from interconnected food systems and supply chains, cross-border trade, food fraud, climate change and technological innovation.

    The NAFDAC director-general said regulatory convergence should translate into tangible benefits through timely information sharing, stronger analytical capacity, virtual learning and harmonisation of regulatory requirements.

    Adeyeye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its national food control system while contributing to regional and continental efforts to advance food safety and protect public health.

    She highlighted the importance of sustained investment in regulatory capacity, laboratory infrastructure, digital technologies, human resources and effective surveillance systems.

    According to her, Africa must move from regulators working alongside one another to working with one another to build safe, resilient and effective food systems.

    The Third AFRAF seeks to strengthen collaboration among African food regulatory authorities and promote the development of integrated, science-based and risk-based food control systems across the continent.

    The forum brings together regulators, regional organisations, scientific institutions and development partners to exchange knowledge, build technical capacity, improve laboratory and regulatory capabilities, and support food safety innovation.

    It also seeks to advance regulatory harmonisation, strengthen cooperation on food trade and public health, promote the use of data and digital tools, and develop practical actions and partnerships to support Africa-wide food regulatory integration and consumer protection.

  • WHO, Netherlands strengthen partnership on Ebola, global health security and emergency response

    WHO, Netherlands strengthen partnership on Ebola, global health security and emergency response

    GENEVA, Switzerland (NPA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Netherlands have reaffirmed their longstanding partnership on Ebola, global health security, emergency preparedness and response, and resilient health systems.

    The commitment was renewed during a meeting on Sept. 30 between WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

    Tedros thanked Sjoerdsma for the Netherlands’ continued leadership on shared priorities, including health security, emergency preparedness and response, resilient health systems, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

    He said the partnership reflected the Netherlands’ Global Health Strategy 2023–2030, which recognises that protecting global health also helps protect health in the Netherlands.

    Tedros welcomed the Netherlands’ continued commitment to flexible and predictable financing, saying it strengthens WHO’s capacity to prepare for and respond to health emergencies worldwide.

    Dutch support contributes to WHO’s work in Gaza, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping to deliver essential health services, disease surveillance, outbreak control and medical supplies.

    The two sides also discussed the evolution of the Ebola outbreak and the need to ensure access to essential health services for Palestinian patients from Gaza.

    They examined ways to strengthen cooperation on health emergencies and ensure rapid action when crises emerge, including mechanisms that would make financing more readily available to contain outbreaks before they escalate.

    Tedros and Sjoerdsma further discussed the growing number of attacks on healthcare and reiterated the importance of protecting health workers, patients and health facilities, while ensuring continued access to essential services in humanitarian settings.

    Tedros thanked the Netherlands for its longstanding leadership in advancing SRHR, particularly for women, girls and people in vulnerable situations.

    Through its partnership with WHO and the WHO-hosted Human Reproduction Programme, the Netherlands has helped translate research and evidence into practical improvements in women’s health, according to the WHO.

    The two sides also exchanged views on WHO’s ongoing transformation and organisational priorities, with both reaffirming the need to ensure that resources, expertise and international cooperation deliver greater impact for countries and communities.

  • ESUTH gets N500m surgical upgrade as Mbah pushes for top-tier medical excellence

    ESUTH gets N500m surgical upgrade as Mbah pushes for top-tier medical excellence

    ENUGU, Nigeria (NPA) — The administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has installed new surgical equipment and upgraded medical facilities valued at more than N500 million at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, as part of efforts to transform the institution into a world-class tertiary healthcare and specialist training centre.

    The initiative is ultimately aimed at positioning ESUTH among the leading teaching hospitals in Nigeria.

    The Chief Medical Director of ESUTH, Prof. Bethrand Ngwu, disclosed this over the weekend while conducting Government House correspondents on an inspection of the upgraded facilities, including the main theatre, Accident and Emergency Department and specialised equipment for complex surgical procedures.

    Ngwu said the upgrades had strengthened the hospital’s capacity to provide faster and more specialised care while supporting postgraduate medical training and professional accreditation.

    “Those machines provided by His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, are all aimed at postgraduate accreditation by these two big institutions, the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Surgeons,” he said.

    He said the improvements also aimed to enhance patient care, particularly for emergency cases, with the upgraded Accident and Emergency Department being developed as an autonomous unit where patients could undergo investigations and receive immediate treatment without unnecessary movement between departments.

    “When he came, the Accident and Emergency was empty. But now you can see how beautiful it is looking. That is what he wants. He wants here to look beautiful, efficient and functional. And that is where we are going,” Ngwu said.

    He explained that emergency patients would be able to undergo tests and receive immediate treatment within the unit, while those requiring surgery could be operated on there before being transferred to the ward after stabilisation.

    Ngwu said the new equipment had also expanded ESUTH’s capacity for specialised procedures, including neurosurgery. The neurosurgical theatre now has new operating tables, ventilators and specialised anaesthetic equipment fitted with capnography, which monitors carbon dioxide levels during complex operations.

    The CMD said ESUTH had recorded several accreditation successes since 2023, stressing that accreditation was essential because resident doctors must train in accredited programmes before taking professional examinations.

    “Accreditation is a regular thing. Because if you do not have accreditation, you cannot even go for professional examination,” he said.

    He added that ESUTH had recently received accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for undergraduate medical training, with its MBBS quota subsequently increased to 350 students.

    According to him, the hospital had secured five-year accreditations from the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Surgeons in areas including Family Medicine, Anaesthesia, Physiotherapy and Radiography.

    He said the School of Nursing had also been upgraded to a College of Nursing, while another round of postgraduate accreditation exercises was scheduled for October, including reviews of the Accident and Emergency and Surgery departments.

  • Almost 1 in 3 EU deaths linked to circulatory system diseases

    Almost 1 in 3 EU deaths linked to circulatory system diseases

    BRUSSELS, Belgium (NPA) — Diseases of the circulatory system caused 1.6 million deaths in the European Union in 2023, accounting for 32.5 per cent of all deaths, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

    The diseases include ischaemic heart disease, hypertensive diseases and cerebrovascular diseases.

    Eurostat said 108 of the 244 EU regions classified at Level 2 of the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) recorded standardised death rates at or above the EU rate of 313 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

    The remaining 136 regions recorded rates below the EU average.

    At the highest end of the distribution, circulatory system diseases accounted for at least half of all deaths in 25 regions in 2023.

    The group included all six regions in Bulgaria, with Yuzhen tsentralen and Yugoiztochen recording the highest shares at 67.3 per cent and 66.4 per cent, respectively.

    All eight regions in Romania recorded shares of at least 53 per cent, with Sud-Vest Oltenia recording 63.8 per cent.

    The group also included both regions of Lithuania, with Vidurio ir vakarų Lietuvos regionas recording 53.7 per cent; Latvia, which has one region at this level of detail, at 52.2 per cent; six of Hungary’s eight regions; and two of Slovakia’s four regions.

    France records lowest shares

    At the other end of the distribution, five regions recorded less than 20 per cent of all deaths attributed to circulatory system diseases.

    All five were in France, with the lowest share recorded in the outermost region of Martinique at 18.2 per cent.

    It was followed by Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur at 19.0 per cent, Guadeloupe at 19.1 per cent, Île-de-France at 19.4 per cent and Franche-Comté at 19.9 per cent.

    Excluding the atypical region of Mayotte, where the share was 30.5 per cent, all other French regions recorded shares of no more than 22.4 per cent.

    Low shares of no more than 22.4 per cent were also recorded in all five Danish regions, with the lowest in the capital region of Hovedstaden at 20.5 per cent.

    Three regions in the Netherlands also recorded shares below 22.5 per cent: Zuid-Holland at 21.1 per cent, Utrecht at 21.7 per cent and Groningen at 22.4 per cent.

  • Rabies: FG urges states, LGAs to intensify annual dog vaccination

    Rabies: FG urges states, LGAs to intensify annual dog vaccination

    ABUJA, Nigeria (Agency Report) — The Federal Government has urged states and Local Government Areas (LGAs) to intensify annual mass dog vaccination to prevent human deaths from rabies.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), Dr Chinyere Akunjobi, made the call on Monday in Abuja at a symposium organised to commemorate World Rabies Day.

    World Rabies Day is observed annually on September 28. The 2026 theme is “Stronger Together”, reflecting the One Health approach to addressing diseases at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.

    Akunjobi, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha, said no Nigerian should die from a dog bite because rabies was preventable through vaccination and appropriate response.

    She said every dog-bite incident should trigger veterinary investigation, laboratory diagnosis, post-exposure prophylaxis and community sensitisation.

    According to her, effective rabies prevention required collaboration among veterinary clinics, hospitals, laboratories, public health authorities and communities.

    Akunjobi also called for responsible dog ownership, including regular vaccination, proper confinement and supervision, identification and prompt veterinary care for sick animals.

    “Rabies remains one of the world’s most devastating yet entirely preventable zoonotic diseases. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100 per cent fatal. Yet, it is also 100 per cent preventable with the tools, vaccines and knowledge we already possess. No Nigerian should die from a dog bite,” she said.

    She said dogs accounted for more than 99 per cent of human rabies deaths globally, making dog vaccination critical to preventing transmission.

    Akunjobi said mass dog vaccination was an effective and cost-effective way of breaking the transmission cycle, adding that 70 per cent vaccination coverage could interrupt transmission.

    She said the ministry was working to improve veterinary services, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and veterinary public health, while Nigeria was targeting zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

    Stakeholders seek stronger collaboration

    The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr Samuel Anzaku, called for stronger collaboration among sectors involved in disease prevention and control.

    Anzaku said effective rabies prevention required the involvement of veterinary and medical services, environmental health authorities, local governments, research institutions, the private sector and development partners.

    He said controlling rabies in the dog population was critical to reducing human infections.

    The CVON identified inadequate vaccination coverage in some areas, under-reporting, limited access to post-exposure prophylaxis, weak surveillance and inadequate funding as key challenges.

    “These challenges require innovative, evidence-based and locally appropriate solutions,” he said.

    Anzaku said the symposium provided an opportunity to examine existing challenges, share experiences and identify practical measures to reduce human deaths from rabies.

    (NAN)