The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

Stakeholders seek inclusion of whole grains in national nutrition policies

Some stakeholders have called for the integration of whole grains into national nutrition policies in order to improve product quality to meet consumer preferences.

According to them, the policies should also strengthen market linkages and scale adoption across school feeding and institutional markets through targeted social behaviour change campaigns.

The stakeholders made the call during the dissemination workshop and press briefing on Nigeria’s first large-scale social marketing research to understand barriers to and increase consumption of fortified whole grains in the country.

The workshop was organised by Fortified Whole Grain Alliance (FWGA), in collaboration with TechnoServe Nigeria in Abuja.

The workshop marked a critical step towards embedding whole grain adoption into Nigeria’s food policies, school feeding programmes, and institutional markets.

Speaking at the event, Country Director, TechnoServe Nigeria, Adesuwa Akinboro, emphasized the importance of evidence-driven policy reform.

Akinboro said, “This research helps us understand not just what Nigerians eat, but why. By grounding decisions in real consumer insights, we can build policies and markets that make nutritious whole grain products accessible to every household.”

Also speaking, Managing Director, Fortified Whole Grain Alliance, David Kamau, emphasized the organisation’s commitment to providing catalytic support to transforming the food ecosystem.

Kamau said, “What we have in front of us today is more than research; it’s a roadmap. It shows where the system is working, where it’s stalling, and what it will take to make whole-grains an everyday reality.

“FWGA remains committed to turning these insights into coordinated action with government, millers, and market actors so Nigerians can access products that are nutritious, trusted, and consistently available.

“If we want consumption to change, the system around the consumer must change first, and introducing whole grains in school meals supported by an appropriate behaviour change campaign is a critical step towards addressing the triple burden of malnutrition.”

The workshop gathered representatives from key government bodies, including the Federal Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Education, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.

There were also representatives from state ministries of Education, Budget and Planning, Health, and the National Association of Private Schools Proprietors from Kano and Ogun states.

December 11, 2025
Experts demand urgent reforms as Kings Psychiatry launches in Lagos

A renewed call for urgent national attention to Nigeria’s growing mental health crisis has been made by a United States-trained and healthcare entrepreneur, Dr Oluwatoyin Oladejo, as she warned that the country is facing what she described as a “silent epidemic” fuelled by stigma, poor policy integration, and severe shortage of specialists.

Speaking during the unveiling of Kings Psychiatry, a mental health outpatient facility in Lagos, Oladejo said mental health challenges in Nigeria have reached alarming levels, yet remain largely ignored in public discourse and healthcare planning.

Also speaking, Lagos APC publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo, revealed that Nigeria, with a population of over 220 million people, has fewer than 300 psychiatrists, a ratio he described as “dangerously inadequate” for a country of its size.

“About one in four Nigerians will experience a mental health challenge at some point in their lives, yet nearly 80 per cent of those affected are unable to access treatment due to cost, stigma and lack of trained professionals,” he said.

Seye, who also served as a Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations in Lagos and a past Chairman of Mushin LGA, said the newly launched facility would offer psychiatric evaluations, counselling, psychotherapy, substance use disorder treatment, and crisis intervention services.

The centre will operate initially as an outpatient service, with plans to expand into full community-based and inpatient care, including detoxification services, in collaboration with federal agencies.

“Our goal is to provide evidence-based, compassionate, and confidential mental healthcare in an environment that restores dignity to patients. Mental illness should not be treated like a crime or hidden away in shame,” he said.

Dr Oladejo noted that the facility was built to meet international standards, with a strong emphasis on privacy, professionalism, and patient confidentiality.

A major policy gap, she argued, is the absence of routine mental health screening in Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

“What we are proposing to the federal government is the integration of mental health screening into primary care. When people come for checks like hypertension, diabetes, or antenatal visits, they should also be screened for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues,” she said.

She explained that such integration would help identify conditions such as postpartum depression early and prevent tragic outcomes.

“Primary healthcare providers should be empowered to start basic treatment immediately instead of waiting for a psychiatrist the patient may never be able to see,” she added.

Dr Oladejo decried the deep-rooted stigma surrounding mental illness, which she said forces families to hide affected relatives rather than seek help.

“In many homes, people with mental illness are locked away in back rooms or taken to villages instead of hospitals. Some are told their conditions are spiritual attacks rather than medical challenges,” she said.

She called for stronger engagement with religious institutions, particularly churches, to improve awareness and encourage early medical intervention.

“Churches have influence. If their leaders are educated about mental health, they can guide their members to seek professional help rather than promote silence and fear,” she noted.

At the media parley, stakeholders questioned Nigeria’s criminalisation of attempted suicide, a law critics say deepens stigma and deters people from seeking help during mental health emergencies.

Seye described the policy as outdated and counterproductive.

“Someone who attempts suicide is not a criminal but a patient in crisis. They need urgent medical and psychological support, not arrest or prosecution,” he said, adding that the centre would actively support advocacy for legal reforms in line with global best practices.

The mental health centre plans to carry out large-scale community outreach, targeting schools, universities, churches, and workplaces.

According to Dr Oladejo, the aim is to address issues such as bullying, substance abuse, anxiety, and attention disorders like ADHD from an early stage.

“If we intervene early in schools, we can reduce online abuse, workplace violence, and broken families. Mental health is not a luxury; it is a national productivity issue,” she said.

She emphasised that untreated mental illnesses reduce workplace output, destabilise families, and place a heavy financial burden on the country.

The centre, which operates on an appointment basis, promises discreet and affordable care.

“Patients can call, book confidentially, and receive care without fear of exposure. We have created a safe, judgment-free environment because mental healthcare must be accessible, respectful, and private,” she said.

Although the facility does not currently admit inpatients, severe cases will be referred to appropriate hospitals while still providing follow-up support.

Dr Oladejo urged the government to place mental health on the same priority level as national security and physical healthcare.

“This is a national issue. If leaders are not mentally well, decision-making is affected. If citizens are not mentally well, society cannot progress,” She noted.

Dr Oladejo concluded by calling for stronger partnerships with government, civil society, and the media to “break the silence” around mental health.

“Until we start talking about this openly, many more lives will be lost unnecessarily. Mental health is health, and Nigeria must treat it as such,” she said.

December 11, 2025
Foundation lifts patients with medical donations worth 12 million naira

A non-governmental organisation has made medical donations worth 12 million naira to indigent patients and hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The donations were made under the auspices of First Call Aid Charitable Foundation, based in Abuja.

The non-governmental organization, which works to expand access to healthcare, delivered the equipment to six hospitals within the FCT to strengthen emergency response and maternal care in underserved communities.

Speaking during the presentation of the items at Abaji General Hospital, Abuja, the Foundation’s Chairperson, Mrs. Khadijat Fashina, said the donation aligns with the group’s mission to support hospitals facing resource shortages.

She noted that general hospitals are a priority because they serve large populations and handle many emergency cases.

She said that although the foundation is only one year old, it has, however, made valuable contributions to the development of the health care system in various communities.

“In the past year, it donated 230 dialysis kits, 150 trauma kits, 100 surgical kits, 100 maternity kits, and 130 antenatal chairs to hospitals, including the National Hospital, Gwarinpa General Hospital, Garki Hospital, Karimoh District Hospital, and Wuse District Hospital, Mrs Fashina said.

According to her, the Foundation also provided equipment such as infant incubators, defibrillators, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters, infrared thermometers, nebulizers, and oxygen regulators to support emergency and maternal health services.

Mrs Fashina said the foundation further assisted indigent patients by helping to pay their medical bills as well.

Fashina said communities like Abaji continue to face healthcare challenges and called for more public support through donations, sponsorships, and volunteer work.

“Our goal is to ensure that life-saving equipment reaches those who need it,” she said.

Receiving the donation on behalf of Abaji General Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr. Victor Molokwu, represented by Dr. Babafemi Aransiola, said the items were timely.

He lamented that many patients struggle to afford health care, but cannot do so due to the high costs of living and competing necessities.

December 11, 2025
New study reconfirms sugar damages the brain

Christmas and New year revelries are around the corner. It is a season in which many persons eat and drink to stupor. I am concerned more about sugary drinks and their inescapable effects on blood sugar balance and brain damage. Several 2024 and 2025 global studies warn of brain damage potentials of sugary drinks. An incisive 2023 study carried out by KERRI M GILLESPIE and others examined 77 studies and concluded that increasing sugar intake was causing poorer global cognitive performance, executive function and memory. They mince no word in saying too much sugar in the brain damages it. As I thought about sugar and brain damage, I remembered Chioma Isabella Ajana, a 100- level law student of University of Nnamdi Azikiwe. She was a TYPE 1 diabetic who must periodically inject insulin into her blood stream to normalise her blood sugar. She died because she lost the key to her hostel room and, for three days could not pay the Porters N18,000 for a spare key and get her injections! In my view, her death was avoidable on at least two grounds. First, insulin injection is not the only answer to type 1 diabetes. Her blood sugar was dangerously rising. She had no access to insulin. The Porters were too stiff-necked . Obviously, she had not been sufficiently educated about her health condition to know it was conquerable with herbal options such as orange peel, fenugreek, chanca piedra, balsam pear, pawpaw leaves, bitter leaf and brimstone. Although medical doctors who are not conversant with nutritional medicine do not approve their use, these herbs have demonstrated insulin like effects as sugar burners and when combined with insulin pharmaceutical anti diabetic drugs, have been shown to exhibit serious hypoglycemic effects. Secondly, CHIOMA ISABELLA AJANNA may have still been numbered among us today had those Porters behaved as human beings.

I deliberately detoured from the damage to the brain by blood sugar overload to recall the painful demise of Chioma Isabella Ajana through a sugar overload in her blood. I did this to prick the conscience of the Porters of her hostel who will enjoy Christmas day and New year’s day with their families and to let them know that, even if inadvertently, they killed her and robbed her family the joy of reunion with her this season.

There was no doubt that their job brief was that any student who lost his or her key must pay N18,000 for a replacement. Many students may have been becoming so irresponsible about the safety of their keys and the university, through indulgence, may have been losing money on free replacements. However, when a student turned up, said she was diabetic, that her drugs were inside her room, that she had no immediate access to money and that she could die if she did not have her insulin injection, couldn’t the Porters have given her the benefit of the doubt and followed her into her room? What would that have cost them? Were they not parents, uncles or aunts? Above all of these, were they not supposed to be human beings before when they were given their jobs to manage human beings?

The wounds of the passage of Chioma Isabella Ajana must be healing, but the pains will linger for some time in the hearts of many persons who were not acquainted with her but merely heard her story. Her death on July 9, 2025 has made me more sensitive to the stories of primary and secondary school children who are pre-diabetic, or who are simply reporting elevated blood sugar. Many of such children are in the school system. Their teachers most probably see them as ATTENTION DEFICIT and HYPERACTIVE (ADHD) children. Their attention spans are short. They fidget in the classroom and cannot concentrate long enough on their studies to make anything useful out of them. Their parents are often to blame. They indulge them with sugary foods and snacks, expose them to food flavours, dyes and colourings. Their tongues are grayish, indicating colonisation of the colon by candida, a yeast form, if not mold, and thereby disposing the brain to dangerous free radicals and toxins from the waste products of these microbial forms. In some young adults and in some of these young children, this may be a case of depression, which outside Alternative Medicine and nutrition formats is often misdiagnosed with psychiatric ailments and, thereby, MISTREATED with possibilities of relapses since roots of the problem are not well known and attacked.

William dufty

One gentleman who must be giggling on reading this column is William DUFTY, author of SUGAR BLUES, who led me through the forest of blood sugar troubles about 1995, close to 20 years after he published the book. I thanked him a lot because, before then, I was a SWEET TOOTH. I drank cassava flakes porridge (garri) in a 16 ounce cup embalmed with CONDENSED MILK!

Before I return to William DUFTY, I would like to state that the spur of this column was the newspaper report that a new scientific study had again linked elevated blood sugar to brain damage of varying dimensions, including reduced brain size, disablement of the HIPPOCAMPUS, that part of the brain which is responsible for memory and learning, dementia, Alzheimer’s, disruption of the BRAIN BLOOD BARRIER, inflammation and nerve weakness. I lost details of the new study. However, news of it led me to old studies, the findings of which I confirmed. Before I mention some of them and I discuss some of the herbs which may help to curb elevated blood sugar and prevent brain damage, I would like to return to William DUFTY.

Back to dufty

His personal experiences with sugar- induced debilitating migraines, haemorrhoids and weight gain influenced the writing of SUGAR BLUES, as would be the warnings of actress GLORIA SWANSON. They met in 1968 and were married in 1976 till 1983 when her death separated them. She always warned him about his sugar cravings. Under her influence, he began to investigate sugar’s impact on health and tactics of the sugar industry to capture the MIND and WILL of mankind. Together, they went on a promotional tour for SUGAR BLUES. On 4 April 1983, Gloria Swanson died in New York City of heart failure at 83. Dufty remained committed to their cause until his death 19 years after in Birmingham, Michigan of complications from cancer. He was 86.

SUGAR BLUES is an exploration of the history of naked sugar and of its devastating impact on human health. It warms us that sugar is addictive and lies behind minor ailments such as slow responses to nerve impulses to bigger ones like diabetes and brain damage. To this list may be added ulcers, physical weakness, mental illness, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and addiction. The message is clear: REMOVE SUGAR FROM YOUR DIET IF YOU WISH TO BE DISEASE AND PAIN FREE. More than 1.6 million copies of the book have been sold.

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Sugar and the brain

It is probably no longer news to many medical lay persons that elevated blood sugar may thicken the blood with all sorts of complications. Thick blood causes osmotic dehydration of tissues and pains such as headaches and aches in muscles, nerves, tissue, bone and tendons. De-oxygenation may damage nerves and cause peripheral numbness. The blood may clot and this may cause vessel damage, heart disease and heart attacks, and even stroke. What may high blood sugar not cause outside DIABETES which is, perhaps, the most well known resultant. Many of the havoc’s of sugar in the brain are not known to many persons. Paediatrician Mrs Mary Newport, in her books suggested some problems in the brain may respond to ketones in coconut oil as an alternate source of energy in the gray matter. Her work was spurred by the ailment of her husband. She followed the tips given by a film director who popularised the term DIABETES OF THE BRAIN. The brain lives on sugar, but too much sugar in the brain is like too much sugar in the blood stream…DIABETES. He said brain cells wilt and die when they are subsumed in sugar and, if this occurs among brain cells which control vision, diseases such as GLAUCOMA may develop.

Brain blood barrier

As the brain is the power house of the body, it is protected with a powerful barrier against blood stream circulation, as, if we like, the earth is protected by the ozone layer against COSMIC RADIATIONS. Effects of damage to the ozone layer are well documented in scientific literature. So is damage by man made sugar to the BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER (BBB).

Sugar is highly corrosive as can be noted in teeth and gum diseases. When sugar damages the BBB, germs and their toxins, like toxins from food, the air, water and metabolism end products may easily cross up to the brain. It is possible the first effect is INFLAMATION everywhere. The early signs of inflammation of brain matter may be such conditions as sleep disturbances (insomnia, sleepiness in day time and other sleep questions, knee jerk syndrome, seizures, headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, fatigue which may be persistent, mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety. Other resultants from inflammation of the brain may include ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity disorder), anxiety disorder, cognitive disorder which may move around decline in problem solving ability, decision- making or right judgement, numbness or tingling and pain in several parts of the body, tremors, muscle weakness or problems with co-ordinating muscles. I was fascinated by an article on DELAYED NERVE RESPONSE which linked several road crashes in the United States to sugar problems. A motorist would sight an impediment on the road. His brain would tell the muscles of the foot to slam the brake. The message would take longer time than is normally necessary to reach the leg and foot muscles. This is because the” motorways” on which the message would travel have become congested with sugar traffic. An avoidable crash would occur!

Beyond inflammation of the brain, sugar damage in the brain may cause smaller brain volume. In smaller brain volume, the HIPPOCAMPUS part of the brain may grow smaller. This is the area which controls memory and learning. Thus, memory loss can occur and memory can be formed with greater difficulty. Learning also becomes more difficult. The sense of smell may wither. Challenged persons may find navigating familiar environment more difficult. Some get lost in the neighbourhood. I had a cousin aged 76 who suffered from dementia and went to hospital for his medicines, unaccompanied. After seeing his doctor, he went to the motor park and boarded a bus bound for five towns away. To cut a long story short, good Samaritans took him to a police station where his hospital card identified his home address.

Helping the brain

A sugar inflamed or damaged brain needs help which is abundant in the treasure troves of mother nature. There is help for inflammation, impaired cellular integrity, tormenting free radicals and other toxins, poor oxygen supply and waste evacuations, clotting blood, subnormal hippocampus, broken BBB and much more.

OMEGA-3 fatty acids in FISH OIL has been well documented by researchers as very helpful. Dr Joseph Maroon, a renowned neuro surgeon and nutritionist, gives it a testimonial for brain health in his book FISH OIL: THE NATURAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY.

BLACK PERUVIAN MACCA, which is different from red or yellow macca, may restore balance in a sugar disoriented HIPPOCAMPUS. It is endowed with powerful antioxidants which fight oxidative stress in a sugar-disoriented hippocampus, and can improve cognitive functions, improve mental energy and alertness. Laboratory experiments show it can improve learning and concentration suggest neuroprotective abilities, especially in MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

More suggestions are exciting. As for men who desire more testosterone for virility, physical endurance, muscle mass and tone, black macca is also well recommended.

GINGER and CURCUMIN, found in tumeric, take us back to remedies. So is GARLIC. They are great endowments in the Nigerian stem cell activator named REJUVENATING DRINK. ORANGE PEEL in powder or whatever form cannot be left behind for its anti inflammatory FLAVONOIDS, Hesperidin and Naringerin. There are other antioxidants and chemical substances which protect against oxidative stress and cell damage.

Lecithin, like DHA OMEGA 3, is a component of cellular membrane which supports cell integrity and fluidity even under sugar barrage. It supplies the brain with phosphatidylcholin which is converted to Acetyl-cholin in the brain. This is a neuro transmitter important for memory, attention and cognitive activities. Lecithin provides, also, INOSITOL which has diverse roles in the management of anxiety, mood swings, depression and other disorders. Lecithin has been a roaring success in the Alternative Medicine market since the last two decades.

GOTU KOLA balance blood circulation and biochemistry in both hemispheres of the brain. GINGKO BILOBA is well documented for improving blood circulation to the brain and micro blood circulation within it, dissolving clots and providing antioxidant support against free radicals and oxidative stress.

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID (ALA)

Is a favourite antioxidant choice because it is active in both fluid and fat media, selective or specific.

Lion’s mane mushroom

It blows my head Everytime I remember it was discovered by Dr Rita Levi Moltacini who discovered in about 1945 to support the regeneration of mangled and damaged nerves. She died in Rome in 2012 aged 103 years, writing and reading and appearing at academic conferences. Researchers after her have taken this mushroom beyond the care of nerves alone.

COCONUT OIL is where I would like to stop. The oil from immature coconut is preferable. This oil, being a medium- chain triglyceride, (MCT) substance offers energy which does not compromise health through residues sludges.

If the brain is exhibiting symptoms of “DIABETES OF THE BRAIN”, sugar barrages may have damaged the potential to produce neurotrophic factors or generate nerve growth hormone (NGH). Brain cells which are innundated with too much sugar and insulin and may have become INSULIN-RESISTANT, may be wilting and dying of hunger since blood sugar, ironically, is the “food” of the brain. Too much sugar is rushing in through the broken BBB and they are shutting their “doors” and “windows” happily. Coconut oil is well blessed with ketones which provide them acceptable, alternative fuel. That is why it is being reported by personal cases and clinical reports as helping several cases of mental health challenges, including glaucoma and other vision problems. The ketones may also improve mood swings, attention spans and behaviour balance. Its polyphenols are useful against oxidative stress and cell damage.

Herbs for diabetes

At the outset, I stated that CHIOMA ISABELLA AJANA may not have died if she knew about anti diabetic herbs, took them regularly or if the Porters of her hostel behaved like human beings. There are too many of these herbs in nature that no one need fear DIABETES. In the housing estate where I live, one architect did not believe until one of these herbs collapsed to normal his blood sugar count which had crossed a 400 point mark. When I showed him the miracle plant in my garden, he got members of his household to embark on a harvest expedition everywhere in the estate. These herbs have insulin like effects and may be used temporarily or for as long as is necessary in the treatment or management of insulin TYPE 1 DIABETES.

Some of them are chanka PIEDRA (my favourite), aloe vera (in gel form, capsule or powder), bitter melon( which may supress fertility for a while), PANAX GINSENG, STINGING NETTLE blood purifier as well), turmeric (an anti inflammatory as well), GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE (which also helps in the repair of damaged pancreas cells, good old onion, an antimicrobial, BLACK SEED, SOUR SOP leaves (they may not be used for prolonged periods), good old GARLIC, FENUGREEK(a friend of the respiratory system), JUNIPER BERRIES(it releases insulin from the pancreas and suppresses hunger) PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUN ( It repairs damaged better cells of the pancreas and stimulates release of insulin), HEART- LEAVED MOON SEED (decreases insulin resistance, stimulates glucose uptake and stimulates insulin production).

So, in this season of revelry, let us keep a safe distance from sugars of all kinds, and keep our sugar burning herbs within easy reach in the medicine box.

December 11, 2025
Experts call for emotional support for couples struggling with failed IVF

Nigeria’s growing reliance on in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) as a pathway to parenthood has come under renewed scrutiny, as fertility advocates, psychologists and medical experts warn that the emotional trauma of failed IVF cycles is being dangerously neglected within the country’s reproductive healthcare system. This urgent concern dominated discussions at a fertility awareness programme organised by the Fertility Awareness Advocacy Initiative (FAAI) in Lagos, where stakeholders insisted that mental health support must become a standard component of fertility treatment rather than an optional add-on provided at the margins.

The hybrid forum—held both virtually and physically with technical support from Nordica Fertility Centre—brought together couples who had lived through the rollercoaster of successful and failed cycles, alongside psychologists and fertility specialists. Through tearful testimonies and clinical analyses, the gathering exposed the human cost behind Nigeria’s booming but largely commercialised assisted reproduction industry.

While IVF has become a beacon of hope for many facing infertility—a condition affecting millions across the country—experts at the event stressed that treatment failure remains widespread, poorly discussed and deeply stigmatised. Vice President of FAAI, Mrs. Vivian Patrick, described IVF as “a journey of hope built on emotional, physical and financial sacrifice,” noting that many couples are left “psychologically wounded” when cycles fail to result in pregnancy. “Infertility treatment drains couples emotionally and financially. Many are walking around with invisible wounds from failed cycles, miscarriages and dashed expectations,” she said. “That is why FAAI exists—to create warmth, provide strength and remind couples they are not alone.”

Patrick explained that FAAI itself is made up of individuals and couples who have walked both sides of the IVF journey, from joyous success to heart-breaking failure. She stressed that cultural myths, late presentation at medical facilities, high treatment costs and persistent social stigma significantly worsen the emotional suffering of Nigerian couples. According to her, the burden of IVF failure is compounded by late health-seeking behaviour, limited access to specialist clinics and the ever-present fear of public ridicule—forcing many into silence.

She illustrated this with a recent experience involving a man who had endured multiple failed cycles and attended an FAAI event “exhausted, discouraged and almost unwilling to come.” But when he unexpectedly won a free IVF cycle during a raffle draw, “the whole hall erupted,” Patrick said, noting that the moment rekindled hope not just for the beneficiary, but for every couple present. Patrick also took aim at persistent cultural myths surrounding IVF-conceived children. “There is nothing wrong with IVF children. My son was born through IVF. He is intelligent, healthy and full of life. Nigerians must move away from dangerous beliefs that stigmatise harmless medical science,” she added.

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Clinical psychologist, Mr. Pillot Gbolahan, broadened the discussion by framing IVF failure as a form of bereavement. “Couples are not just losing a pregnancy; they are losing hope, identity and sometimes dignity,” he said. “In Nigeria, where childbirth determines social value, this loss is even more brutal.” He cited global studies showing that about half of individuals undergoing fertility treatment experience significant emotional distress. Depression affects between 15 and 24 per cent, while anxiety levels climb as high as 28 per cent. “These are not statistics,” he said. “These are real people battling shame, isolation and fear that their lineage may end with them.”

Gbolahan warned that untreated psychological trauma often spills into marital conflict, emotional withdrawal and communication breakdowns. Beyond emotional strain, he explained that chronic stress produces biological consequences that can reduce IVF success rates. The most psychologically demanding period, he said, is the ten to fourteen-day wait after embryo transfer. “People monitor every sensation in their body, time moves slowly, and anxiety becomes torture,” he noted.

Fertility counsellor, Mrs. Precious Balogun, argued forcefully that counselling should be formally integrated into Nigeria’s fertility treatment protocols, rather than offered informally or at the discretion of clinics. “IVF failure is grief,” she declared. “The absence of a baby does not mean the absence of loss. Yet couples are expected to return to normal life without space to process that grief.” Balogun described the intense social pressure many Nigerian couples face—unsolicited advice, traditional myths, intrusive questions and family interference—all of which worsen emotional wounds. She added that many women remain frightened even after achieving a positive pregnancy test, traumatised by previous losses. “Counselling helps couples process trauma, rebuild communication and prepare emotionally whether the next cycle succeeds or fails,” she said, calling for greater involvement of men in the emotional dimensions of treatment. “Men are expected to be strong, but they carry their own fears about sperm quality, financial pressure and family expectations. IVF is not a woman’s journey; it is a partnership.”

Offering medical insight, a fertility specialist at Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr. Victor Ajayi, explained that IVF failure does not always indicate poor medical care. He noted that some women respond better to frozen embryo transfers than fresh cycles, especially when hormone levels fluctuate. Conditions such as endometriosis, he added, significantly reduce implantation success. “Even when embryos appear ‘perfect,’ implantation may fail due to genetic abnormalities, poor uterine receptivity or factors beyond current scientific control,” he said. “IVF is not magic. It is a complex interaction of biology, timing and chance. Even in the world’s best centres, IVF cycles fail.” Ajayi stressed that many couples, in desperation, sell properties or travel abroad in search of success. “When it fails, it breaks more than the cycle,” he said. “It breaks people.”

Medical Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, urged Nigerians to exercise caution and critical thinking when choosing IVF centres. “Patients must conduct due diligence,” he said. “Don’t rely on rumours or social media. Ask questions, demand written explanations and understand side effects. Your life should not be controlled by ignorance.” He insisted that experience, integrity and transparency are essential indicators of a credible clinic.

Beyond personal pain, the forum spotlighted wider systemic gaps: weak regulation, high costs, poor mental-health integration and widespread misinformation. Stakeholders warned that unless urgent reforms are implemented, IVF in Nigeria risks evolving into a purely commercial enterprise stripped of humane, patient-centred care. FAAI and experts called for mandatory psychological counselling in IVF treatment, stronger regulatory oversight of fertility centres, robust public education to dismantle stigma and community-based peer support for couples grappling with repeated failures.

The event concluded on a symbolic note when five participants—one chosen through a live electronic draw—won access to a free IVF cycle, injecting a rare moment of celebration into a room that had been shaped by heavy stories of loss. Yet, for many at the gathering, the deeper victory was the willingness to finally break the silence around IVF failure. “IVF failure is not the end,” Patrick said. “But healing must come before hope can grow again.” As Nigeria witnesses rising demand for assisted reproduction, experts insist that the future of fertility care must be built not only on science, but on compassion, mental wellness and honest public dialogue.

December 11, 2025
Funding gaps threaten women’s health, demographic stability

The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has raised the alarm over a looming family planning commodity crisis in Nigeria, warning that the country risks severe health and demographic consequences if urgent action is not taken. The warning comes after the Federal Government failed to release any budgetary allocations for contraceptive procurement in 2025. Ms. Amina Mohammed, Programme Delivery Lead and Francophone Liaison at AHBN, sounded the alert in Abuja during the sidelines of the 9th Annual Conference of the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists (ANHeJ). She described the funding gaps as a “grave threat” to women’s health and a potential destabiliser of Nigeria’s demographic trajectory.

Mohammed noted that the complete absence of federal budget releases for family planning marked a sharp departure from previous years. She also highlighted Nigeria’s repeated failure to meet its annual $4 million commitment to the UNFPA Basket Fund, which supports pooled procurement systems for contraceptives, further weakening supply chains. Drawing on a presentation titled “Nigeria’s Family Planning Commodities: Pills, Policies and Promises,” Mohammed underscored the real-world consequences of chronic underfunding. “In 2024 alone, Nigeria recorded over 800,000 unintended pregnancies, 300,000 unsafe abortions, and more than 10,000 preventable maternal deaths due to poor access to contraceptives,” she said. “The nation also missed over $200 million in potential health savings.”

She explained that inconsistent funding patterns have disrupted supply forecasting, undermined procurement cycles, and triggered widespread stockouts across the country. Between 2022 and 2023, Nigeria reportedly lost $1.5 million annually under the UNFPA Supplies Match Fund, and in 2024, it failed to secure a second tranche of $6 million in commodities due to unmet commitments. According to Mohammed, UNFPA projects a $27 million shortfall for 2025. The national health budget allocated only $4 million for family planning activities — a figure far below the resources required to meet demand.

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Despite the grim outlook, Mohammed highlighted emerging opportunities. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency plans to procure $6 million worth of commodities for nationwide distribution. Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Health has voted $4 million for 2025 and 2026, while the Presidential Medical Relief Fund has set aside six billion naira for family planning commodities. She also acknowledged critical donor contributions, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s $25 million support to Lagos State and UNFPA’s potential to unlock an additional $2 million in supplies. Yet, she stressed, these interventions are insufficient to close the widening funding gap and address the urgent needs of women nationwide.

Mohammed warned that failure to resolve the crisis would have far-reaching consequences. “A continued shortage of family planning commodities will strain the health system, increase child poverty, fuel unsafe abortions, and worsen unintended pregnancies,” she said, “ultimately weakening Nigeria’s economic and demographic prospects.” She called on the media to play a critical role in driving accountability. By highlighting bottlenecks, scrutinising funding releases, and amplifying evidence-based insights, journalists can help policymakers prioritise investments in family planning, safeguarding both public health and Nigeria’s broader development agenda.

December 11, 2025
Staying Safe During Harmattan Season

The Harmattan has arrived. That dusty, dry wind sweeping across Nigeria from the Sahara deserts brings more than a picturesque glow to our mornings and evenings. Its arrival is felt in the scratch of dry throats, the haze in the air, and the crispness that makes jackets suddenly fashionable. But beneath the poetic scenery, harmattan is a season that challenges our health in subtle, insidious ways. For anyone who thinks it’s just a chilly wind, think again: this is a period when small neglects can blossom into serious illnesses. Staying safe is about more than adding a sweater to your wardrobe; it’s about mindful living, prevention, and proactive care.

Harmattan’s defining traits are its dryness, low humidity, and the haze of fine dust particles. These characteristics may sound harmless, but they directly impact respiratory health. For children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions like asthma or bronchitis, inhaling dust-laden air can trigger flare-ups. Even healthy adults can experience dry sinuses, irritated eyes, and a scratchy throat if they remain exposed without protection. The first and most crucial line of defence is awareness. Start by monitoring air quality advisories, especially in urban areas where dust can combine with pollution, creating a cocktail that is particularly harsh on the lungs.

Hydration is your frontline ally. The dryness in the air strips moisture from the body, leaving skin and mucous membranes parched. Doctors recommend increasing water intake, but hydration extends beyond sipping plain water. Herbal teas, broths, and natural fruit juices not only replenish fluids but provide essential vitamins that bolster immunity. For children, offering water frequently throughout the day—rather than waiting for them to feel thirsty—can prevent dehydration, which in Harmattan often sneaks up silently.

Skin care is equally vital. Harmattan is notorious for cracking lips, rough hands, and itchy, flaky skin. A liberal application of petroleum jelly, shea butter, or rich moisturizers throughout the day can prevent painful fissures and secondary infections. Do not underestimate the power of lip balm; dry, cracked lips are not only uncomfortable but a portal for bacteria. For sensitive skin, gentle exfoliation once a week can remove dry patches, allowing moisturizers to penetrate effectively.

The wind also affects our eyes. Conjunctivitis spikes during Harmattan, particularly among school-aged children. Eye irritation from dust particles can lead to redness, watering, and even bacterial infections if left unchecked. Simple protective measures, such as wearing sunglasses when outdoors and avoiding rubbing your eyes with unclean hands, are highly effective. Eye drops, preferably preservative-free, can lubricate the eyes, while frequent handwashing reduces the chance of transferring pathogens from hands to eyes.

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Respiratory care deserves special attention. Beyond the ordinary cold and cough, Harmattan can exacerbate chronic conditions. Medical experts advise keeping homes clean, using air purifiers where possible, and reducing exposure to outdoor dust, especially during peak wind hours, typically early morning and late afternoon. Masks are no longer just for pandemics; a well-fitted dust mask or even a scarf covering the nose and mouth can filter out harmful particles when commuting or working outside.

Nutrition, often overlooked in seasonal safety, plays a pivotal role. Harmattan can weaken immunity, making the body susceptible to infections. Incorporating vitamin C-rich fruits like oranges, guava, and mango, alongside zinc-packed foods such as legumes, eggs, and nuts, strengthens your body’s defences. Warm soups and porridges not only provide comfort in the chilly air but help maintain internal warmth and energy, particularly for children and the elderly.

Sleep hygiene is another key aspect. The early sunsets and cool evenings might encourage extended night activities, but irregular sleep can weaken immunity. Aim for 7–9 hours of quality rest. For children, ensure bedtime routines remain consistent despite the season’s distractions. Using a humidifier in bedrooms, or placing bowls of water near sleeping areas, can counteract indoor dryness and prevent nasal irritation and throat discomfort.

The risk of viral infections, including influenza and the common cold, rises during Harmattan. Crowded markets, buses, and classrooms are breeding grounds. Preventive strategies like regular handwashing, avoiding close contact with visibly sick individuals, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces reduce transmission. Seasonal influenza vaccination is a strong protective measure, particularly for high-risk groups. Remember, the body’s defence is only as strong as its weakest link, and during Harmattan, that link is often exposure and dryness combined.

Children require extra vigilance. Their playful activities outdoors often make them unaware of health risks. Teaching them to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, ensuring they wear scarves or masks during dusty conditions, and monitoring hydration levels can prevent common Harmattan illnesses. For parents, preparing emergency kits with moisturizers, nasal drops, and basic cough and cold medication is a proactive step that reduces panic when symptoms appear.

Harmattan also influences mental health, a factor often ignored. Shorter days, hazy skies, and the isolation of indoor confinement can contribute to fatigue, low mood, and irritability. Simple routines, exposure to sunlight during morning hours, staying physically active, and maintaining social connections combat this subtle seasonal depression. Mindfulness practices, meditation, or even journaling can stabilise emotional well-being while the wind sculpts its dusty patterns outside.

Exercise should not be abandoned, but timing is crucial. Avoid peak dust periods, and if jogging or exercising outdoors, use a mask or choose indoor alternatives. Gentle stretching and yoga can maintain fitness without exposing the lungs to harmful particles. For rural communities, early mornings are often less dusty and safer for outdoor activities, while urban dwellers might prefer late evenings. Lastly, Harmattan is a season for observation and proactive care. Those with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or skin conditions should consult healthcare providers before the peak of the season. Awareness campaigns, local government advisories, and media alerts provide timely guidance that can prevent emergencies. Communities should encourage proper sanitation, safe water consumption, and collaborative monitoring of vulnerable populations.

Harmattan may paint the landscape in its misty orange hue, and the brisk wind may be invigorating, but its hidden threats demand respect. Staying safe is not merely about reacting to symptoms—it is about a holistic approach: hydration, skin care, respiratory protection, nutrition, sleep, and emotional wellness. By adopting these strategies, Nigerians can enjoy the season’s beauty while minimising its health hazards. Remember, Harmattan is a marathon, not a sprint. Prepare wisely, protect your body, and let the season’s chill be a companion, not a threat.

December 11, 2025
NPHCDA unveils reforms to strengthen PHCs, reach 2.1m zero-dose children

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has unveiled a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, expanding immunisation coverage, and reaching the country’s estimated 2.1 million zero-dose children. Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, outlined the measures during the NPHCDA’s quarterly media briefing in Abuja, where he emphasised renewed commitment to reducing preventable maternal and new-born deaths and ensuring that primary health centres (PHCs) operate at full capacity.

Aina said the agency’s broader goal is to ensure that at least 17,600 of Nigeria’s more than 30,000 PHCs become fully functional and capable of delivering essential maternal, new-born and child health services. “These centres must be equipped, staffed, and capable of delivering essential services, especially for women and children,” he said. Achieving this, he noted, requires tackling persistent operational and funding bottlenecks. To address these challenges, the Federal Government has expanded the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which now allows PHCs to receive quarterly funds directly. Low-volume centres will receive N600,000 per quarter, while high-volume facilities will receive N800,000. Aina added that, beginning January 2026, a full list of beneficiary PHCs will be published to strengthen transparency and reassure Nigerians that funds are reaching the right facilities.

Aina identified zero-dose children—those who have not received a single vaccine by their first birthday—as a major concern and a critical priority area for the agency. To tackle this, the NPHCDA introduced the Identify, Enumerate, Vaccinate (IEV) strategy, which targets underserved and hard-to-reach communities. Between July 2024 and October 2025, he said, more than 500,000 zero-dose children were reached through intensified house-to-house mobilisation and targeted immunisation campaigns.

The agency has also expanded integrated campaigns that deliver multiple interventions at once—such as polio, measles, HPV and malaria prevention—in order to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. Aina disclosed that the NPHCDA is rolling out digital health records, real-time PHC dashboards, multilingual e-learning platforms in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, as well as an electronic financial management system designed to strengthen accountability for health spending at facility level. “So far, more than 70,000 frontline health workers have been trained, and 27,000 community-based workers recruited, with states signing MOUs to absorb them permanently,” he said.

During the briefing, Aina addressed broader issues affecting Nigeria’s health outcomes, including maternal mortality, immunisation gaps, ongoing diphtheria outbreaks, challenges with hard-to-reach populations, and the need for transparency in health financing. Responding to recent claims that Nigeria recorded 20,000 maternal and new-born deaths in 2025, Aina said he was unsure of the data source but acknowledged the severity of preventable deaths across the country. “What I can agree with is that we’ve had too many unjustified deaths,” he said. “That is why the President prioritised reducing maternal and new-born mortality under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.”

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He explained that direct PHC funding, an expanded health workforce, increased home visits and the rollout of the Management of At-Risk Mothers and Infants (MAMI) intervention all target the leading drivers of maternal and child mortality, including vaccine-preventable diseases. He added that PHC services are being broadened to include mental health care and interventions for non-communicable diseases.

Addressing Nigeria’s diphtheria situation—8,000 cases and 800 deaths recorded so far—Aina pointed to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which showed Penta-3 vaccine coverage at just 53 per cent. “If 53 per cent received the vaccine, 47 per cent did not. They are susceptible, which explains ongoing outbreaks,” he said. While the Federal Government procures vaccines, Aina stressed that state and local governments are responsible for service delivery, urging the media to hold subnational governments accountable for performance.

Hard-to-reach locations, he explained, include riverine, mountainous, remote, poorly connected, and insecurity-prone areas. “These areas often overlap with zero-dose communities and maternal mortality hotspots,” he noted. Under the IEV framework, the agency has identified 7.4 million residents across priority states who require special outreach strategies. On the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, Aina said the framework had improved unified planning, budgeting and coordination among federal, state and partner agencies, reducing duplication and resource waste. He also provided updates on the BHCPF, revealing that 8,309 PHCs currently benefit from the fund. After ongoing verification, 13,512 facilities will be added by year-end, while another 5,212 are undergoing clearance for qualification.

Revitalising PHCs, he said, involves assessing building integrity, staffing, equipment, power supply, water availability and consistent supply of essential medicines. “If you equip a centre without health workers, it will be abandoned. If you put equipment in a building without a door, it will be looted,” he said. The agency has introduced monthly facility monitoring by performance and financial management officers, supported by a digital financial management app and an MOU with security and anti-corruption agencies. Facilities must now account for previous disbursements before receiving new funds.

Providing an update on the HPV vaccination campaign, Aina announced that more than 15 million girls aged 9–14 had been vaccinated, surpassing the initial target of 13 million. The programme continues as new age cohorts become eligible. Citing NDHS findings, he said 172 LGAs across 33 states account for more than half of maternal deaths, making targeted interventions essential. He also noted that the MAMI intervention had expanded to nearly all states.

On the issue of zero-dose children, Aina stressed: “These are not ghosts. They are children. We know where they are, we know their mothers, and we are removing barriers one by one.” He reaffirmed the NPHCDA’s commitment to rebuilding Nigeria’s primary healthcare architecture, improving immunisation uptake, scaling digital tools and strengthening accountability at all levels. Transparency, community trust and media collaboration, he said, remain central to the country’s ongoing health transformation agenda.

December 11, 2025
FG ramps up AMR response amid declining donors support

The federal government is set to reactivate the national antimicrobial stewardship network to enable hospitals across States share lessons, provide mentorship (virtual and physical), and coordinate efforts in a unified way to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), it has emerged.

AMR occurs when germs become stronger than the medicines used to kill them which makes antimicrobial stewardship essential, ensuring antibiotics and other germ-killing medicines are used the right way, at the right time, and only when absolutely necessary.

To strengthen coordinated action against AMR, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for AMS committee leads from implementing hospitals to join the national Technical Working Group on AMR, while urging broader participation from national and state ministries, the veterinary and environmental sectors, and professional associations such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

NCDC Director General, Dr Jide Idris, emphasized in Abuja on Wednesday during the close-out and sustainability meeting of the Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS 2.5) organized by Global Health Partnership, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, that the government’s move is necessary.

“This is because, under Nigeria’s first National Action Plan on AMR, stewardship performance was just below 40 per cent, and on closer scrutiny, effective implementation might be closer to 20 per cent,” he said.

He added that the move is further justified by the fact that only a few tertiary hospitals currently have functional antimicrobial stewardship programmes, despite widespread drug misuse and rising resistance.

“Because many antibiotics are consumed in the community, not just in hospitals, NCDC wants to engage community pharmacists and other community-level drug distributors to extend AMS beyond hospitals,” he said.

Represented by Dr Ridwan Yahaya, the DG urged the Federal Ministry of Health to make all tertiary hospitals AMS hubs , while calling on States to establish AMR governance structures to extend support to secondary and primary facilities.

“Stewardship cannot remain project-based, it must be institutionalised nationally with support from federal and state ministries, not just hospitals enrolled in CwPAMS 2.5,” he said.

Pharm. Estelle Mbadiwe, Founding Partner at Ducit Blue Solutions, the in-country coordinator for CwPAMS, said antimicrobial stewardship is essential to keep medicines like antibiotics and antifungals effective as bacteria and other pathogens evolve, safeguarding healthcare quality and underscoring the imperative of harnessing domestic funding to tackle the challenge.

“Drugs that used to work are no longer effective, and that threatens quality healthcare. Antimicrobial resistance is captured as a silent pandemic, but I beg to differ.

“We cannot be silent. We need to speak out and empower people to know the right actions,” she warned, rejecting the notion of AMR as a quietly unfolding crisis and stressing the need for deliberate, sustained measures to combat it.

She urged innovation-driven domestic financing, saying, “We need to look at domestic funding and look at the opportunities to innovate for the funding. At this event today, we are doing an AMR innovation marketplace to look at how stakeholders can innovate to address antimicrobial resistance”.

While highlighting major gains of the CwPAMS programme across 17 health facilities, including five hub sites, which established models that Nigeria must now integrate nationally, Mbadiwe stressed the critical need for sustainable domestic financing.

“This programme has helped Nigeria build systems, skills, and strategies to combat resistance, while also creating platforms for bilateral learning with UK health institutions,” she said.

Looking ahead to the global high-level meeting on AMR next year, Mbadiwe stressed the need for mass public education, saying, “We want to ensure that the message on addressing antimicrobial resistance is at the lips of every single Nigerian.

“We want them to understand what it means, we want them to understand their role and we want them to understand who the stakeholders are so they can ask the right questions and get results.”

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health and outgoing member of the United Nations Global Leaders Group on AMR, highlighted the urgency of sustained effort, noting that AMR remains one of the most serious public health threats in West Africa.

He recalled data from the Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System which showed the region as having the highest mortality.

“It showed that West Africa, the West African sub-Saharan region, had the highest mortality related to antimicrobial resistance. That mortality slide, for every 100,000 people, 227 actually die as a result of antimicrobial resistance

“In 2021, the data shows that in Nigeria alone, 65,000 people died directly from antimicrobial resistance. 65,000 people. These are human beings,” he warned.

Chukwu, however, underscored Nigeria’s readiness to continue the fight and pointed to next year’s major international meeting as evidence of the commitment of Nigeria.

On funding concerns, he urged diversification and creativity, saying, “Even the Global Fund is also funding some aspects of this antimicrobial resistance pandemic.

“So there are international funding mechanisms that can still be explored and utilised. But there could also be innovative domestic ways of funding it. We can also approach the private sector in Nigeria.”

Ms Oluwatoni Akinola, AMR and IPC Programme Officer at DRASA Health Trust, said the close-out of the CwPAMS programme marked a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against antimicrobial resistance.

December 10, 2025
‘Oborevwori to speed hospital takeover’

Residents of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community and other neighbouring riverine areas in Warri North council area of Delta State, from avoidable deaths, the people have implored Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to fast-track the takeover, rehabilitation, staffing, and upgrade of the Tsekelewu Cottage Hospital.

The facility, which is critical to the survival of hundreds of residents within and outside the riverine area, had been without adequate workers and in need of rehabilitation after it was abandoned for months.

However, the state government, following a directive by Governor Oborevwori, decided to step in and return life to the hospital, eliciting hope and excitement from residents.

In a statement by Dr. Bright Abulu, President-General of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community, and Rev. Clement Tiemo, Secretary-General, the community reiterated its gratitude to the governor for his earlier directive instructing the state to assume control of the hospital, rehabilitate it, recruit personnel, and upgrade it to the status of a General Hospital.

They, however, lamented a near-total lack of progress on the ground since the governor’s announcement.

The people noted that the situation was further worsened by the withdrawal of personnel from the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme in July 2025, following the planned transfer of the hospital to the Delta State Hospital Management Board.

Concerned about escalating health risks, they warned that the worsening healthcare vacuum poses immediate danger to residents.

December 10, 2025