Category: Health

  • Salako, Anas, others push for deeper domestic health financing

    Salako, Anas, others push for deeper domestic health financing

    The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, has stressed that Nigeria must urgently deepen domestic financing to secure the future of its health system as foreign grants decline.

    While he noted that Nigeria’s development partners have made enormous investments over the years across HIV, malaria, immunisation, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, and broader health systems strengthening, the Minister emphasized that the landscape of global aid is increasingly unpredictable.

    However, acknowledging the support from the United States, Global Fund, World Bank, Gavi, the UK, the EU, Japan, and philanthropic foundations, the Minister noted that Nigeria has also shown commitment through counterpart funding, increasing its co-financing of Gavi programmes and providing in-kind contributions to PEPFAR.

    Emergency funds have also been used to protect essential services when donor shifts create financing gaps.

    Speaking on Friday in Abuja at the 9th Annual Health Conference of the Association of Health Journalists, themed ‘Domestic Resource Mobilisation in the Face of Dwindling Foreign Grants and Aid’, Salako said global economic pressures and shifting priorities have made donor flows uncertain, and Nigeria had anticipated this shift by implementing domestic financing reforms.

    He identified major local financing pillars, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, and State-level initiatives such as contributory health insurance schemes and diaspora-backed infrastructure funds.

    He also highlighted expanding private-sector investment, with the Private Sector Health Alliance mobilising over ₦50 billion and the Sovereign Wealth Fund investing in hospital infrastructure.

    Salako, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Health System Strengthening, Dr. Babatunde Akinyemi, said the government is exploring blended financing, social impact bonds and deeper capital market engagement, while prioritising continuity of care for vulnerable groups, especially in HIV treatment and immunisation.

    He said strategic co-investment with global partners remains critical and urged partners to focus on systems strengthening rather than recurrent costs.

    He reminded health journalists that their work is key to shaping public accountability, explaining reforms, identifying gaps, and reporting programme outcomes.

    In her presentation, Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas, warned that Nigeria can no longer depend on increasingly unreliable donor funds.

    While acknowledging that external support has helped reduce maternal and child deaths and combat infectious diseases, she noted projected donor reductions of 15–20 percent, calling for urgent domestic financing reforms.

    She said over 70 per cent of current health spending comes from out-of-pocket payments, pushing millions into poverty each year, and although national health budgets have risen gradually, they remain far below the recommended 15 per cent.

    She cautioned that heavy reliance on grants for HIV, malaria, and immunisation exposes Nigeria to disruption. With over 30,000 primary healthcare facilities nationwide, declining donor flows without domestic replacement would strain the poorest populations and stall progress toward universal coverage.

    She said the Tinubu administration anticipated the challenges in the Renewed Hope Health Agenda and its National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which unites federal and state governments, development partners, and civil society, adding that all the States have signed up to mobilise domestic resources and align investments.

    The BHCPF, she said, remains Nigeria’s strongest tool for universal coverage and now functions with improved transparency and performance indicators.

    The National Assembly is working to double its statutory allocation from one to two per cent, she revealed, noting that the fund would benefit over 30,000 PHCs, with performance benchmarks tied to reduced maternal deaths and improved immunization.

    Plans, she said, are underway to protect households through mandatory health insurance, targeting 50 million Nigerians in four years, with current enrolment close to 20 million.

    Innovative funding streams, especially the sugar-sweetened beverages tax, are being strengthened, with advocacy for higher rates and earmarking proceeds for health.

    She stressed that sustainable delivery depends on state and local governments, calling on states to take ownership, scale up social insurance, and approach the Abuja Declaration benchmark of 15 percent budget allocation to health.

    NUJ FCT Chairman Comrade Grace Ike, represented by Jide Oyekunle, said Nigeria must confront dwindling donor flows by investing in a self-sustaining system.

    She urged governments to protect health budgets, ensure transparency, expand insurance coverage, and strengthen public–private partnerships. She charged journalists to investigate fund use, track commitments, spotlight gaps, and deepen accountability.

    Earlier, ANHeJ President Joseph Kadiri said the conference underscores the need for sustainable financing, strong partnerships, and resilient institutions.

    He urged journalists to track government commitments and amplify the realities faced by families, noting sub-themes including cancer research, maternal and newborn health, public health emergencies, and combating counterfeit drugs.

  • Prioritise AI funding for healthcare innovation, Pantami tells FG

    Prioritise AI funding for healthcare innovation, Pantami tells FG

    Former Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen innovation in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

    Pantami made the call on Thursday while delivering a guest lecture at the 26th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) held in Kaduna.

    This year’s conference focused on the theme, “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Benefits, Ethical Boundaries and Islamic Perspective.”

    Pantami said that AI has become indispensable in modern healthcare systems across the world, advising Nigeria not to lag at a time when countries are investing heavily in emerging technologies.

    “Artificial intelligence is unavoidable, unstoppable, and inevitable,” he said. “It becomes necessary for us as Muslims to look into technology critically and see how it will help our profession.”

    Pantami explained that artificial intelligence offers enormous benefits in disease detection, personalised treatment, accuracy in diagnosis, and surgical precision.

    Read Also: Pantami, Mujaddadi Foundations to train Bauchi youths in AI, cybersecurity

    He cited examples of virtual surgeries conducted between Rome and Beijing, and between America and Asia, which he described as evidence of the transformative power of AI in saving lives.

    “AI will support our medical practitioners in saving lives, increasing high levels of precision and accuracy in determining and diagnosing diseases,” he noted. “But, despite its numerous benefits, its adoption has to be ethical and responsible.”

    The ex-Minister highlighted the need to invest in modern infrastructure, training, and retraining of medical personnel, as well as developing AI-powered tools that can improve healthcare delivery nationwide.

    Stressing that failing to invest in AI would leave Nigeria far behind global trends, he referenced Saudi Arabia’s recent announcement of a $40 billion AI fund—more than Nigeria’s national budget—to illustrate the scale of global commitment to technological advancement.

    “We need to prioritise investment in AI infrastructure to support our healthcare system,” Pantami added, emphasising that meaningful funding is the foundation for any long–term technological transformation in the sector.

  • FG tasks 464 foreign-trained Med Lab scientists on professionalism, patriotism

    FG tasks 464 foreign-trained Med Lab scientists on professionalism, patriotism

    The federal government has again stressed integrity, professionalism, and patriotism in the healthcare workforce as the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) inducted 464 newly qualified foreign-trained medical laboratory scientists in Abuja on Thursday.

    The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the ceremony symbolised a collective pledge to national service and strengthened diagnostic systems

    With new professionals entering the field, he insisted that the country’s diagnostic backbone must be strengthened through ethics, patriotism, and unwavering professionalism.

    “As you take up your roles, I urge you to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Let precision define your work and let ethical conduct guide your actions.

    “Resist all forms of malpractice; reject quackery; and remember that the trust patients and clinicians place in you is a sacred responsibility.

    “Your work influences life-saving decisions; therefore, excellence must be your constant benchmark,” Salako said.

    He noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, and institutional reforms under the Renewed Hope Health Sector Investment Initiative.

    He stressed that laboratory scientists sit at the heart of accurate diagnosis, public health surveillance, outbreak response, and treatment planning. 

    “Your competence inspires investor confidence, stimulates local production of diagnostic tools, and reduces reliance on imports,” he said.

    He assured that the government remains committed to improving regulation, strengthening training, and maintaining quality assurance nationwide, describing the induction as progress not only for MLSCN but for the entire health workforce.

    The Council’s Registrar and CEO, Dr. Donald Ofili, applauded the Federal government, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda has provided “a clear direction for building a competent, ethical, and future-ready health workforce.”

    He vowed that MLSCN would intensify efforts to enforce discipline, end quackery, and maintain global standards across the country. 

    He noted that the council’s disciplinary tribunal “remains active and will not hesitate to sanction practitioners found guilty of unethical or unsafe practices.”

    The Registrar further described the newly commissioned Golden Arena of MLSCN as a stronger, functional structure that will lower event costs and serve as a versatile venue for future inductions and major gatherings.

  • Coalition urges Senate to fast-track child protection bill after House passage

    Coalition urges Senate to fast-track child protection bill after House passage

    The National Online Safety Coalition has urged the Senate to promptly take up, consider, and pass the Child Online Access Protection Bill to safeguard Nigerian children as the legislation heads for concurrence.

    The Coalition said the urgency of Senate action cannot be overstated, stressing that swift passage will enable timely transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

    Welcoming the Bill’s passage at Third Reading in the House of Representatives, the Coalition, a multi-stakeholder network advancing digital safety, described the development as a milestone in Nigeria’s quest for a comprehensive child online protection framework.

    It noted that Nigeria currently faces severe threats online, with over 50 percent of children having encountered digital harm, while 80 percent of harmful content involving minors stays online for more than 48 hours before removal.

    The Coalition praised House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the Bill’s sponsor, Hon. Olumide Osoba, the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, and members of the House for demonstrating urgency at a time when online threats to children are rising at unprecedented speed.

    It said the Bill introduces the most far-reaching legal regime yet to reinforce platform responsibility, curb exploitation, and enforce accountability for Big Tech.

    The coalition noted that during Committee consideration, the report successfully integrated key recommendations from Gatefield, the Coalition’s technical lead, aligning with evidence from the recent State of Online Harms in Nigeria report.

    “This landmark legislation brings Nigeria closer to a digital ecosystem where platforms are held accountable, and the rights of children to safely explore the digital world are upheld.

    “The House has taken decisive action, and this momentum must now carry into the Senate,” Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, said.

    Building on national momentum behind the cause, the Coalition recalled that Hon. Osoba had publicly affirmed his target to secure full House passage within three months at the Child Online Safety Forum convened in October, a pledge now fulfilled.

    Read Also: Ogijo lead poisoning: Senate raises alarm over silent public health crisis

    “The House of Representatives has taken a bold step to safeguard our children online. It is now the Senate’s turn to complete this essential work.

    “Protecting children in the digital age cannot be optional,” said Khadijah El-Usman, Senior Program Officer at Paradigm Initiative.

    According to the coalition, following the House passage, the harmonised legislation will be transmitted to the Senate for debate, and once both chambers approve a clean copy, it will move to the President for assent, bringing Nigeria closer than at any point in its history to a robust and enforceable standard for online child protection.

    The Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to sustained engagement with policymakers, civil society partners, and digital platforms to ensure that the final Act is effective, rights-based, and consistent with global best practices.

    It said its members remain united in advancing a safer and more accountable digital ecosystem for every Nigerian child.

  • Some dangers in corrosive physical surrender

    Some dangers in corrosive physical surrender

    Please forgive my choice of a wooly headline. My temperament is no longer boiling over like a boy’s or young man’s, and, so, I cannot talk about SEX in the open from both corners of the mouth. That is what they do in the United States every 23 April, the nearest of which is about five months away. I am jumping the gun to join the queue over concerns about the way SEX is making animals of many adult men and women in Nigeria today.

    Rape is no longer news. It cannot be in a country where women of almost all descriptions, young and old, wives or single, pregnant or not, obtusely fat or twiggy, are exhibiting their bodies for sale in the manner of saying … I AM AVAILABLE. Two reported cases of rape I cannot easily forget are those of a trader who was returning home from the market one evening. The other was that of a night shift nurse in Lagos. The trader and the rapist were neighbours in the village. He often hired him to transport her to the market on his motor cycle, and to bring her back home in the evening. One evening, he detoured to a bush path on their return journey, pretended that the motor cycle engine was faulty, seized her when she dismounted for him to fix the fault, raped her, abandoned her and rode off! Did he think she would not know who raped her or would not report the rape?, I wondered. As for the nurse, she alone was on duty at her health centre. At midnight, she shut the door to the clinic, leaving the lone security man on the grounds, as was the routine. Soon, he came knocking, pretending to be sick. Once he was let in, he seized the nurse and raped her. She feigned consent, and even agreed to be his girlfriend. Police came for him the next evening when they arrived again for duty. A judge jailed him afterwards.

    Reports stranger than these are emerging. Masons who came to fix broken utilities rape women or girls who are alone. Fathers intimidate their daughters to have sex with them and, sometimes, make them pregnant. The latest of such deeds involves a father reported to the police by the eldest of three daughters aged 24. Whenever each of the girls became 12 years old, he began to have sex with them and intimidating them with threats of reprisàls if they told. Finally unable to bear it, the eldest reported to the police. Recently, too, a mother told on her husband who had repeatedly defiled their three year old daughter. It is as though a maddening epidemic of sex is upon the land. It would seem sex no longer has any serious meaning to many persons. It doesn’t matter if the partner is a complete stranger or even verified to be HIV positive. The newspapers reported last Saturday that millions more would be HIV positive or get caught in the AIDS web very soon. Condoms have become more expensive. Many persons know they are HIV positive, but do have no qualms about infecting other persons because, as they say, someone else gave it to them, anyway, and, in bowing to the principle of letting oneself go, they should be free to indulge their passion. Other persons have thrown caution to the dogs because they recognise HIV can now be overcome with plant medicines.

    READ ALSO; Sabinus confirms amicable dissolution of marriage

    National sex day

    The foregoing and allied matters belong to the realms of SEX EDUCATION. On April 23 every year, there is a huge SEX talk in the United States which has now grown into such proportions to be called NATIONAL SEX DAY, although the government is not behind it nor had it so declared the date as such. The NATIONAL SEX DAY is the handiwork of health education groups and on- line communities. On this date, they raise questions about sexual health, consent and related questions.

    What is sex

    From what transpired in Nigeria last Saturday about the prospects of more millions of Nigerians becoming infected with HIV AIDS and other diseases in the sex scourge, I thought of asking the following questions today…

    1) What is SEX?

    2) During SEX, are there EXCHANGES other than those of physical fluids and sweat freely taken and given across both frontiers?

    3) Do these EXCHANGES, seen or not, have physical and psychic impact on both parties?

    4) Is any man meant to be a suitable sex partner for any woman , and any woman the same to any man?

    5) Can sex with a wrong partner cause failures in personal endeavours, predisposing a partner, for example, to POVERTY or to RICHES or to “non-communicable” diseases

    6) Does sex, through invisible threads, bond or weave the participants together, when the bare chest or the man impacts the bare breasts of the woman?

    Only frivolous persons do not occasionally bestir themselves for inner- life clarification about the question of physical intercourse surrender between the genders. This question haunts many marriages. Questions are asked over whether one man is meant for only one woman, why women may not have more than one sexual partner when men do, whether a woman is merely a garden on which a man or men sow seeds, or if she is a seed which can be sown far away from her nationality, and why she must give up her family’s surname for another. The questions are endless. So confusing to many is the meaning of the word SEX, and few it must be who end up not making grave mistakes but we make meaning of this conception. We often get it all wrong, as we do with several other concepts, because we situate ourselves as the centre of the world, rather than be content as mere fruits or creatures in it. We do not wish to accept that everything we have been given to enjoy was given for specific purposes. Thus, we so easily confine the gift of SEX to PROCREATION and confuse it with the conception of GENDER, that is MALE and FEMALE. This is apparent when we are invited to state in a form whether we are male or female, that is to state our GENDER, but we are asked instead to state our sex.

    My conception of sex began to outgrow its limitation to PROCREATION on earth when I began to relate it with the existence of male and female forms, in realms of existence beyond the material thresholds as scriptural literature guide us.

    I accept the fact that the earth is not my home. Who at 75 doesn’t long for the continuation of existence elsewhere when the earth shuts its gates, witholds the dust material which formed our earthly cloak and leaves us to wander elsewhere ? In the conceptions of creation I have followed, it is only on earth that the external cloak of the sojourning man evolved procreative organs and where SEX, as we now know and experience it, can take place. In that Creation conception, all of us were neutral in our forms as we journeyed towards the earth for the purpose we are all here to discover and to fufil, because no endeavour is without purpose and meaning. It was only at a point in the course of this journey that we evolved into a male or a female form. Each person took the decision in the excercise of FREE WILL. As the creation conception goes, there are only two types of ACTIVITY in Creation. One is dense and rough and active. In whoever chose this activity, feminine abilities or characterisation withdrew, and the male form emerged. In those who chose the quiet, preserving and passive Activity of caring and tending, the male abilities withdrew, releasing the female form. The Bible allegorically reports these events in the Adam and Eve story.

    Thus, sexual intercourse is an engagement of man’s physical earth body to which he himself, from a higher origin, should not be a SLAVE, allowing himself to be overcome and supressed by what was meant to be his tool. This is unnatural and can only end in spiritual doom for the human spirit is the SEX CAGE. Think about it: your body came into existence through you and lives for as long as you exist inside it, dying when you discard it. So, why should it CONTROL you, why can you not control its sexual greed as you can control alcoholism or food cravings? For many persons, over consumption of RED MEAT and certain foods have been linked to sexual overdrive and withdrawal from them found to solve the problem. This will probably be a subject for the National Sex Day.

    Sexual urge

    It is natural, though not necessarily for procreation or pleasure, otherwise the creator would not have implanted it in the body. It may, therefore, not be supressed as a natural desire of a healthy and mature adult human body, like food, water, sleep and rest, air, and exercise without dire consequences, including depressive melancholy. However, like all gifts of the Almighty Creator, expression of the sexual urge are to be made under certain conditions. Even in marriage, the rules of engagement must be obeyed, if sex is not to soil body and soul.

    Between two consenting parties, the pertinent basis for sexual intercourse is prior complementary inner or spiritual harmony which, in some cases, is striving towards physical union as well. Inner or spiritual harmony refers to the COMPLEMENTARITY of the souls. COMPLEMENTARITY means that one party brings to their union abilities or qualities the other lacks and vice versa. For they are split parts of a specie seeking Fuller value of their existence through the union. Every-one who is familiar with elementary chemistry knows that, under the right condition of pressure and heat, molecules of oxygen and hydrogen, as split parts of water, would seek union to become water. The initial free decision to be male or female, in terms of which Activity they would devote their existence to, led to a separation of the human spirit seed or kernel . A single adamantine law rules the universe. This is why man and woman would forever seek acquaintanceship and relationship with each other, consciously or otherwise. Unfortunately, however, it is not complemented persons,  even in marriage, who get involved in sexual intercourse. This leads to serious problems, sometimes.

    Exchange of vibrations

    This is one of the effects of sexual intercourse. For it is not only physical fluids and sweat that are exchanged. Science and medicine, though conservative about these matters for long, have now come to recognise that everything which exists broadcasts its existence through peculiar RADIATIONS or vibrations. Plants have been shown to rejoice or vibrate harmoniously at the approach of a good gardener, and to wither or to shrink when the one they dislike approaches. Gardeners know that some plants do not grow well when they are planted together. Some may even kill others. This is because their radiations or vibrations do not accord. RADIATIONS do fight RADIATIONS, harm or destroy themselves. Even in the human body, the ENDOCANNABIDIOL SYSTEM which governs the other systems tries to ensure that one system does not diminish another and impose itself on them. Can the exchange of radiations between a man and a woman not become dangerous , therefore, if what they are bringing to their sexual relationships are not complementary but antagonistic vibrations? The Yoruba marriage tradition appears to recognise this and , in its own understanding, tries to symbolically address possible discomfeitures .

    The symbolism is in the washing of the bride’s feet right at the entrance of the groom’s family dwelling before she is admitted as a bonafide member of the family by marriage!

    In the bedroom, what protection do incompatible partners have from quarrelsome or inhospitable vibrations, even if they are husband and wife? Isn’t it worse for men and women who play around? Imagine a philanderer, man or woman, enveloped in a swamp of quarrelsome and fighting vibrations, harming and disintegrating one another! No man or woman can easily tell what his or her partner is bringing to table until during or after the act.

    Growing knowledge

    The knowledge of human radiation or vibration has been growing since YURI GELER on television of the 1970s trained his mind on metal spoons women held in their kitchens and he caused them to bend in the hands of those women through the power of his mind. From rabbit and pig farmers, we know that these animals would reject their newborns of a certain age if farmers held them with bare hands. Cats behave likewise. What did human hands impact on those young animals? What comes out of the inhabitants of a house which maintains it in a good condition but which, when withdrawn, such as when the house is uninhabited for some time, causes them to collapse like long abandoned village houses? During and after sexual intercourse, some persons notice that they feel uplifted or drained of energy. Some even hate themselves and swear to not have anything to do with their partners in future. There are stories of men losing their jobs and of their world collapsing after marriage. Some other persons have good stories to tell. A popular Yoruba Oba died about 20 years ago of breast cancer, the disease which killed his wife a few years earlier. Was there a psychic transference of the misfortune? Is spiritual harmony what makes husband and wife to look like siblings after some years of marriage? Does the fate or karma of one affect the other? How does the psychic environment of a man or a woman look like or impact if he or she indulges constantly in playing around? I made a check on-line to see how far human labouratory experience may have broadened in these thoughts, relying on work going on in psychic medicine and energy medicine which are helping to resolve some human health questions Orthodox and many a traditional medicine may stand before, like a toad asking a mountain to move. One of the answers I received suggested that controlled, peer-reviewed evidence are still few regarding whether sexual partners discharge psychic vibrations the way Energy Medicine circles describe the phenomenon. However, there exists a number of personal stories, some exploratory studies and oral tradition of different population groups world wide.

    According to an expert in this field:

    “Systems such as Reiki, Chakra balancing, Therapeutic Touch, and “bio‑field” healing describe a flow of subtle energy that can be “blocked” or “imbalanced” during intimate contact. Practitioners often say they can feel a “cold” or “jarring” sensation when two people’s energies clash.

    “ Some self‑identified psychics claim they can see or sense an aura that brightens, dims or changes color during sex. They may interpret a sudden “darkening” as an antagonistic vibration.

    “ A few small studies (e.g., the “Ganzfeld” experiments or early “psychic healing” trials) have looked at whether a person’s physiological state can be influenced by another’s intention, but the results are inconsistent and have not been replicated in a way that convinces mainstream science.

    “Books, blogs and YouTube channels that market “energy‑sex” or “soul‑mate” concepts often give vivid, first‑person accounts of feeling “out of sync” or “drained” after a night with a partner they label as “energetically incompatible.”

    “Reiki masters and chakra teachers teach that each chakra can be “opened” or “closed” during sex and that a mismatch can cause a “psychic shock.”

    “ People like “James Van Praagh”, (though he focuses more on after‑life communication) and newer “intuitive” coaches, sell workshops on “energy clearing for couples.”

    “Some holistic health centers offer “bio‑field assessments” (often using devices that measure electromagnetic fields) and claim to detect “energy leaks” after sexual encounters.

    “ A handful of published case studies in journals like Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine describe individuals who reported feeling “emotionally drained” after sex with a partner they later described as “energetically mismatched.” These are purely self‑reports.

    “The HeartMath Institute has published small trials suggesting that heart‑rate coherence can be shared between people in close contact, but the leap from “shared heart rhythm” to “psychic vibration discharge” is not made in the data.

    “ Persons who believe their “energy” has been siphoned, may feel unusually tired, irritable, or uneasy after sex. Labeling a partner as “energetically incompatible” can create doubt, jealousy, or withdrawal, sometimes leading to break‑ups. Expecting a negative energetic exchange can amplify ordinary post‑coital feelings (e.g., mild hormonal drop) into a perceived “drain.”

    The future

    By April 2026, we may be wiser in these matters. One of the research areas which may make this happen, according to an expert, is,

    – “Parapsychology. Practitioners say it is the field that investigates alleged psychic phenomena, including “energy transfer, ” but It is considered a fringe discipline and is not part of mainstream biology or medicine.

    Another is energy psychology. The practice is a subset of alternative psychology that proposes “thought fields” or “bio‑fields” can be manipulated. It is not recognized by the American Psychological Association as evidence‑based.

    Yet another is Biofield research, a small, interdisciplinary area that looks at weak electromagnetic fields generated by living organisms. Some grant‑funded studies explore whether these fields can be detected or influenced, but they do not support the idea of “antagonistic psychic vibrations” during sex”.

  • To cure Nigeria’s ailing health system, empower its unsung heroes

    To cure Nigeria’s ailing health system, empower its unsung heroes

    By Emmanuel Nwanya

    Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its healthcare journey, confronted by a paradox that demands urgent and strategic action. While national conversations—particularly in major urban centres—celebrate economic growth, renewed policy reforms, and ambitious social programmes, nearly half of the population still lives in rural or hard-to-reach communities where access to even the most basic healthcare remains painfully inadequate. An estimated 46% of Nigerians continue to face chronic deprivation, not only due to deteriorating health facilities, but also because of entrenched socioeconomic barriers and a critical shortage of healthcare workers. What Nigeria faces is not merely a gap in services; it is a full-scale national emergency that undermines human capital, fuels avoidable deaths, and constrains the country’s economic aspirations.

    The statistics are stark and sobering. Nigeria still bears one of the world’s highest maternal mortality burdens—512 deaths per 100,000 live births—an unacceptably high figure despite decades of national and global interventions. At the same time, non-communicable diseases account for nearly 30% of all deaths, putting immense pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals that were never designed to absorb such an overwhelming volume of chronic cases. Meanwhile, primary healthcare centres, which should serve as the backbone of the country’s health system, are overstretched, underfunded, and often unable to respond to the triple burden of infectious diseases, maternal complications, and increasingly prevalent lifestyle-related illnesses. With universal health coverage by 2030 slipping further out of reach, Nigeria must urgently rethink its strategy by shifting from expensive, centralised hospital care to a decentralised, community-driven primary healthcare model.

    This shift requires one thing above all: the strategic empowerment of Community Health Workers (CHWs). Too often overlooked, CHWs are the most cost-effective, culturally grounded, and scalable tool for expanding access to healthcare in Nigeria. Doctors and nurses, indispensable as they are, remain heavily concentrated in urban areas. It is therefore unrealistic to expect them to meet the needs of scattered rural populations. CHWs, by contrast, are embedded within the communities they serve. They speak local languages, understand cultural norms, navigate complex gender dynamics, and appreciate the social determinants of health that shape how people seek care. Their proximity gives them the power to translate health policies into real, tangible impact. Beyond providing services, they build trust, encourage behaviour change, and ensure continuity of care—qualities that no tertiary hospital can replicate.

    READ ALSO; Sabinus confirms amicable dissolution of marriage

    Global evidence is unequivocal: well-designed CHW programmes deliver immense health and economic returns. They reduce maternal and child deaths, expand immunisation coverage, improve family planning uptake, and facilitate early detection of diseases. But the economic case is even stronger. When primary healthcare fails, patients bypass local facilities entirely and flood urban hospitals with complications that could have been managed—and prevented—at the community level. A mild malaria case, easily handled by a CHW, becomes a life-threatening condition requiring costly hospitalisation. In maternal health, CHWs encourage early antenatal care, support skilled birth attendance, and detect warning signs before emergencies develop. They break the costly chain of delayed care by providing affordable, timely, and continuous support.

    International studies show that every dollar invested in CHWs yields up to ten dollars in returns through reduced medical costs, fewer hospital admissions, improved productivity, and better school attendance. For economic planners, this makes CHWs not just a social asset but a strategic national investment. They also serve as the first line of defence in outbreaks, detecting early signs of epidemics before they spiral into national crises. Yet beyond all metrics, CHWs hold a unique advantage: they are trusted. In communities where decades of failed promises have eroded confidence in the health system, CHWs remain familiar, reliable, and influential voices.

    Despite their potential, Nigeria’s CHW programmes have not achieved the impact they should—not due to lack of dedication but due to systemic weaknesses. Many CHWs operate informally, work as volunteers, or receive inconsistent stipends. Without clear career pathways, professional certification, or structured remuneration, turnover is high and skilled workers drift away. Nigeria must now institutionalise CHWs as a recognised professional cadre with formal training, clear promotion structures, and adequate compensation. Task-shifting must be strengthened to enable CHWs to provide essential services while freeing doctors and nurses to handle more complex care.

    The digital era also presents an opportunity. Nigeria’s continued reliance on paper-based data systems at the primary care level significantly limits CHW efficiency. Investing in scalable digital tools—mobile apps for reporting, tele-mentorship, logistics tracking, and patient follow-up—would transform the quality and speed of healthcare delivery. Real-time data would allow managers to respond quickly to declining immunisation coverage or medicine stockouts.

    Furthermore, CHW programmes remain overly dependent on short-term donor funding, making them vulnerable to disruptions. Sustainable national impact requires long-term government financing embedded within federal and state budgets. CHWs must be recognised not as temporary project staff but as essential pillars of Nigeria’s health architecture.

    Transforming CHW programmes will require coordinated, multisectoral action. Government must professionalise the cadre, allocate dedicated funding, and strengthen digital infrastructure. The private sector should support training and invest in scalable technology. Civil society and the media must sustain public awareness and accountability. Foundations like the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation have already begun revitalising primary health centres and building public health leadership—efforts that should be amplified nationwide.

    Nigeria cannot meet its health and economic goals without fully unlocking the potential of Community Health Workers. Empowering them is essential to reducing mortality, managing chronic diseases, and securing a healthier future for the nation. The moment for decisive action is now.

    • Nwanya is the Health Philanthropy Team Lead at the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and a public health professional specialising in evidence-based strategies for health system strengthening and the pursuit of universal health coverage.

  • Coping with heatwave – Understanding the risks, steps

    Coping with heatwave – Understanding the risks, steps

    Nigeria is entering a period of unprecedented heat, with temperatures rising higher and lasting longer than many communities are accustomed to. What once felt like the familiar heat of the dry season has evolved into intense, sustained heatwaves that push the human body to its limits. Across the country—whether in Lagos, Enugu, Kaduna, Abuja, Sokoto, Port Harcourt, or rural communities—the story is the same: scorching afternoons, restless nights, and a constant struggle to stay comfortable, hydrated and healthy. This is no longer a seasonal inconvenience; it is a public health challenge that requires understanding and proactive action.

    A heatwave is far more dangerous than ordinary hot weather. It places the body under stress in ways most people do not immediately recognise. The body cools itself mainly through sweating and releasing heat through the skin, but during a heatwave, humidity, dehydration, and constant sun exposure disrupt this balance. Sweat does not evaporate as quickly, the heart works harder to circulate blood for cooling, and the body’s core temperature begins to climb. When this happens repeatedly or for long durations, it leads to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, or severe dehydration—all of which can be life-threatening, especially for children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions like hypertension, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes. Yet even healthy young adults are not immune. During extreme heat, no one’s body functions normally.

    The early signs that heat is affecting you can be subtle. You may feel slightly dizzy, unusually tired, or burdened by a persistent headache. You might sweat profusely, feel nauseous, or notice your heart beating faster than usual even when you are not physically exerting yourself. These are not signs to dismiss or attribute to “just tiredness.” They are warnings that the body is struggling to cool itself. If unaddressed, they can progress to heatstroke, a medical emergency where the body’s temperature rises dangerously high, leading to confusion, loss of consciousness, organ damage, or even death. Recognising these early cues and responding immediately is essential.

    Coping with a heatwave begins with one of the most important but most neglected habits: proper hydration. Many Nigerians are chronically dehydrated without realising it, especially during busy workdays or long commutes. In extreme heat, the body loses water faster than usual, and thirst alone is not reliable as an early indicator. You must drink water frequently throughout the day—even when you don’t feel thirsty. Two to three litres is a reasonable daily goal, but those who work outdoors or engage in physical activity will need more. Adding oral rehydration salts or homemade electrolyte drinks can help restore the salt and mineral balance lost through heavy sweating. Eating fruits like watermelon, oranges, pineapple, pawpaw, cucumbers, or drinking zobo prepared without excess sugar can also support hydration. Conversely, alcohol and excessive caffeine worsen dehydration and should be consumed with caution.

    READ ALSO: Why I apologised to Afeez Owo – Wumi Toriola

    Clothing choices also play an important role in regulating body temperature. Light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from breathable fabrics such as cotton allows heat to escape more easily. Dark colours absorb heat, and tight clothing traps warmth against the skin, making heat stress more likely. A simple cap or wide-brimmed hat can make a significant difference for those who must walk or work outdoors, and sunglasses provide essential protection against harsh sunlight that strains the eyes during heatwaves.

    Cool indoor environments are essential, but with irregular electricity supply and high cooling costs, many households struggle. Still, there are practical ways to reduce indoor heat. Curtains or blinds can be drawn during peak sun hours to keep rooms from accumulating heat. Cross-ventilation—opening windows on opposite sides of a room—helps fresh air circulate. Switching off unused appliances reduces indoor warmth, as these devices generate silent heat even when idle. A cool shower before bedtime, lighter beddings, and sleeping in well-ventilated rooms can significantly improve sleep quality during hot nights.

    Daily routines also need adjustment during extreme heat. The hottest period of the day, typically from late morning to late afternoon, should be used for indoor or shaded activities whenever possible. Children should be encouraged to play indoors during these hours, and individuals who work outdoors—such as security personnel, traffic officers, construction workers, delivery riders, traders, and farmers—should take frequent breaks, apply wet cloths to their foreheads or necks, and drink water at regular intervals. Workplaces should understand that extreme heat affects productivity, cognition, and safety. Adjusting duties or schedules during heatwaves is not a luxury but a necessity.

    Nutrition during heatwaves should also be considered. Heavy, greasy, or highly spicy meals increase the body’s metabolic heat production, making you feel warmer. Lighter meals, vegetables, whole grains, and water-rich foods place less burden on the body and support digestion. Eating smaller portions more frequently can help maintain energy levels without contributing to additional internal heat. Skin and eye care become even more important in intense sunlight. The skin loses moisture quickly, leading to dryness, irritation, or sunburn. Simple moisturisers such as shea butter, coconut oil, or unscented creams can protect the skin from excessive dryness. People with sensitive skin may benefit from sunscreen, especially when outdoors for long periods. Sunglasses protect not just from discomfort but from long-term UV damage.

    Heatwaves also affect emotional and mental well-being. Many people report increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, and trouble sleeping during extreme heat. The brain is sensitive to temperature changes, and when the body is overheated, mood and cognition can fluctuate. Practising relaxation techniques, taking short breaks throughout the day, and prioritising adequate sleep can help maintain emotional stability during prolonged heatwaves.

    Finally, knowing when to seek medical help is essential. Persistent headaches, vomiting, fainting, confusion, extremely hot or dry skin, or rapid breathing should never be ignored. These are signs that the body is overwhelmed. Immediate cooling and urgent medical care can prevent irreversible damage. Nigeria’s heatwaves are becoming part of a new climate reality. But with awareness, preparation, and responsible habits, the risks can be significantly reduced. Staying safe is not about panic; it is about being informed, intentional, and attentive to your body’s signals. This season, take heat seriously. Hydrate often, rest when needed, dress smartly, and protect those around you. Your body can endure harsh conditions—but only when you give it the support it needs.

  • UNAIDS, partners push for sustained HIV response to end AIDS by 2030

    UNAIDS, partners push for sustained HIV response to end AIDS by 2030

    The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has called on all stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s HIV response to intensify and sustain their efforts in order to achieve the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The charge was delivered by Gabriel Undelikwo, Community Support Adviser at UNAIDS Nigeria, during a press conference and candlelight memorial held to honour people who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS while reaffirming a collective commitment to continued action.

    The event, organised by the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), formed part of activities commemorating the 2025 World AIDS Day. This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” speaks directly to the country’s determination to maintain progress in its HIV interventions despite economic pressures, global health uncertainties, and persistent structural challenges. It also highlights stakeholders’ shared responsibility in ensuring that effective prevention, treatment, and care continue to reach communities across all states.

    Undelikwo noted that the latest UNAIDS report points clearly to a historic opportunity: the world can end AIDS by 2030—but only if nations safeguard human rights and ensure equitable access to services, particularly for people living with HIV and populations most at risk. According to him, Nigeria must stay firmly on the path of sustaining and expanding its HIV response, strengthening rights-based services, closing treatment gaps, and preventing new infections, especially among children. Only through consistent, well-coordinated action can the country meet the global target.

    He explained that the candlelight memorial was not only a moment of remembrance but also a symbol of collective resolve. It represented solidarity with families and communities who have lost loved ones, while also reinforcing the nation’s determination to confront stigma, support those affected, and push for continued advancements in treatment and care. “This memorial reminds us why we must not relent,” he said. “It honours those we have lost and strengthens our resolve to ensure no more lives are cut short by AIDS.”

    READ ALSO; Sabinus confirms amicable dissolution of marriage

    Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH), Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society groups, communities, and development partners. He stressed that Nigeria must continue to push forward until HIV is no longer regarded as a public health emergency. According to him, SFH has spent more than three decades providing leadership, compassion, and technical expertise in the national HIV response — building resilient communities, expanding access to services, and empowering individuals through stigma reduction and continuous support systems.

    Dr. Idogho highlighted that through policy innovation, programme resilience, and strategic partnerships, Nigeria has witnessed remarkable improvements in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. These gains, he noted, have ensured that hope — not fear or stigma — increasingly shapes the daily experiences of people living with HIV. But he warned that the fight is not yet won. Sustaining progress requires renewed commitment, investment, and partnership across all levels.

    Representing the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism, Winifred-Abbo Agogo described the 2025 theme as fully aligned with Nigeria’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which prioritises health, human capital development, inclusive growth, and efficient systems capable of expanding access to essential HIV services. She emphasised that community leadership remains central to achieving these goals. Communities, she said, must take bold steps in education, testing, treatment adherence support, and continuous advocacy.

    Agogo urged Nigerians to speak out firmly against stigma and discrimination, which remain major barriers to service uptake. She called for deeper partnerships between communities, civil society organisations, and government institutions to ensure that vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations are not left behind. “The progress we seek can only be achieved when those most affected are at the centre of the response,” she noted.

    As Nigeria joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day 2025, the message from stakeholders remains consistent: the nation has made remarkable progress, but sustaining that progress is crucial. With strengthened collaborations, rights-based approaches, and unwavering commitment from communities, Nigeria can stay on track to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The candlelight memorial ended with renewed pledges to honour the memories of those lost and to continue working tirelessly until the goal of an AIDS-free generation becomes a reality.

  • Lifeline Care marks 20 years of road safety efforts in Nigeria

    Lifeline Care marks 20 years of road safety efforts in Nigeria

    Lifeline Care, a not-for-profit organization focused on reducing road crashes and fatalities in Nigeria, recently marked its 20th anniversary with a dinner hosted by its Board of Trustees at the NAF Center, Abuja. 

    The event brought together dignitaries and supporters of the organization’s mission.

    Key attendees included Chief Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation and Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who delivered the keynote address; Amal Pepple, former Minister of Housing and Head of Service; Senator Sanusi Daggash; Alhaji Kashim Imam, former Chairman of TETFUND and President of KCOBA; and Bolanle Onagoruwa, a Trustee of Lifeline Care.

    The evening featured testimonials from beneficiaries of Lifeline Care programs, who shared how the organization’s interventions had affected their lives. 

    Corporate partners supporting the organization’s work were also recognized with Corporate Social Responsibility Awards, including Custodian Insurance, ENL Consortium, Eta Zuma Group, and the Stanley Jegede Foundation.

    In his address, Chief Chidoka commended Lifeline Care for its work in reducing road accidents and emphasized the importance of targeted interventions at accident-prone areas to reduce fatalities.

    Lifeline Care’s founder, Dr. Nkem Momah, reflected on the organization’s two decades of activities, noting its role in providing medical care to road accident victims, raising awareness about road safety, and advocating for policy improvements. 

    He emphasised that as road crashes remain a significant challenge in Nigeria, the organization’s work continues to be relevant.

    The event also paid tribute to Gen. Owoye Azazi, former National Security Adviser, and Senator Gbenga Aluko, who were posthumously recognized for their support to Lifeline Care.

    Looking ahead, the organization reiterated its commitment to ongoing efforts to reduce road crashes and fatalities in Nigeria with the support of its partners and stakeholders.

  • FG unveils full oral health services, PHCs integration plan

    FG unveils full oral health services, PHCs integration plan

    The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening oral healthcare nationwide through improved legislation, expanded workforce training, and stronger institutional coordination, as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s high burden of preventable oral diseases.

    The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, said dental facilities across the country would be upgraded and equipped, while additional dental professionals would be recruited at the primary healthcare level to expand access.

    For emphasis, he said community health workers, primary health centre (PHC) staff, and traditional birth attendants are also being trained to identify and refer cases of noma, cleft lip, cleft palate, and other severe oral conditions for timely, often free treatment.

    To ensure full integration of oral health into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, he said PHCs have been mandated to provide oral hygiene education, counselling, basic diagnostics, fluoride treatment, restorative services, and referrals.

    He added that the reorganisation and expansion of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) will make more resources available to support oral healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during the commemoration of the 2025 National Oral Health Week and Noma Awareness Day, Salako noted that the steps become necessary considering that millions of Nigerians, especially children and the elderly, continue to suffer from preventable conditions such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancers, which undermine dignity, productivity, and quality of life.

    He warned that noma remains one of the most devastating of these conditions, describing it as a rapidly progressing gangrenous disease that mostly affects malnourished children living in extreme poverty.

    “Every Nigerian needs access to dental services,” he said, stressing the need for greater awareness, improved oral-health literacy, and the adoption of modern technologies to strengthen service delivery.

    He called for a whole-of-society response, linking the elimination of noma and other oral diseases to improvements in nutrition, sanitation, housing, immunisation, and maternal and child health, saying, “Noma is not just a medical failure, but a societal inadequacy.”

    Earlier, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said noma is a preventable but devastating condition affecting mostly malnourished and vulnerable children, and that eliminating it requires more than clinical care.

    She said nutrition, clean water and sanitation, social safety nets, and community empowerment must work together with oral-health services to stop new cases and reduce mortality.

    Kachollom highlighted Nigeria’s key role in securing the WHO’s recognition of noma as a Neglected Tropical Disease in 2023, describing it as a milestone that has helped mobilise global attention, funding, and research.

    She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening workforce capacity and ensuring oral-health services are accessible, affordable, and sustainable.

    Chairman of the Noma Aid Nigeria Initiative (NANI), Mathis Winkler, described Nigeria as the most affected country in Africa and said this reality makes it essential for international partners to concentrate their efforts locally.

    He said the initiative’s mission is to treat survivors and prevent new cases through awareness, early detection, and community-based interventions.

    Winkler noted that NANI has been instrumental in establishing and operating specialised noma treatment programmes, including the Noma Treatment Center at the National Hospital, Abuja, where survivors receive surgical reconstruction, psychological support, nutritional rehabilitation, and follow-up care.

    He said the organisation focuses on early identification of at-risk children, strengthening local medical capacity, and raising awareness of noma as a preventable disease, while working with communities to address root causes such as malnutrition and poor sanitation.

    “We are here to treat, support, and prevent. And as long as Noma still affects children in Nigeria, we will continue this work,” he said.

    NANI Country Director, Dr Charles Ononiwu, revealed that the centre has carried out 237 free reconstructive surgeries in its mission to address a disease that overwhelmingly affects children in rural and impoverished communities.

    He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s recent progress, attributing improvements to increased awareness, stronger government support, and enhanced focus on neglected tropical diseases.

    Ononiwu reiterated that Noma is highly preventable, noting that proper nutrition, good oral hygiene, early treatment of mouth sores, and routine childhood immunisation can significantly reduce its occurrence.