Category: Health

  • Expert debunks sugar myth, says lifestyle, not sugar causes obesity

    Expert debunks sugar myth, says lifestyle, not sugar causes obesity

    Public health physician and executive member of the Community Health Empowerment Foundation, Dr. Godswill Iboma, has clarified that sugar is not the direct cause of obesity and diabetes, contrary to popular belief.

    Speaking at a health workshop organised by the Community Health Empowerment Foundation in Lagos, Dr. Iboma explained that while excessive intake of any nutrient can have health implications, scientific evidence does not support the claim that sugar alone causes non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes.

    The workshop, themed “Debunking the Linkages Between Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs),” gathered health stakeholders to examine misconceptions about sugar intake and its alleged direct link to metabolic disorders.

    “Sugar has been demonised for centuries alongside alcohol and tobacco. But unlike tobacco or alcohol, there is no conclusive evidence that moderate sugar consumption directly causes non-communicable diseases. It’s not about sugar in isolation. It’s about balance: how much we eat, how much we move, and how our bodies process energy,” Dr. Iboma said.

    He emphasised that lifestyle factors — including diet, exercise, socio-economic conditions, and genetics — are the true drivers of NCDs, not sugar itself. 

    “Public health should empower people to live better, not punish them for what they eat. When we understand the science, we make better choices — as individuals, as policymakers, and as a society,” he added.

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    Highlighting sugar’s biological importance, Dr. Iboma explained that glucose, derived from sugar, is the body’s primary energy source, powering the brain, muscles, and vital organs. 

    Without adequate glucose, he noted, the body’s energy systems weaken, causing fatigue and cognitive decline.

    “Carbohydrates, including sugars, are not enemies. They are essential nutrients that provide the energy we need for physical activity, mental alertness, and overall body function,” he said, noting that the brain alone consumes about 20 percent of the body’s glucose at rest.

    While advocating moderation, Dr. Iboma warned that excessive or unbalanced sugar consumption — especially without physical activity — can be harmful. 

    “The problem is not sugar itself but how we consume it; often in large quantities and without adequate exercise to burn it off,” he said.

    The workshop also assessed the effectiveness of sugar taxes, including Nigeria’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax introduced in 2022. 

    Dr. Iboma cautioned that such measures, while aimed at discouraging consumption, may not deliver significant health benefits without scientific evaluation.

    “Taxes may reduce sales temporarily, but they rarely reduce obesity or NCD rates in the long term,” he argued, citing evidence from countries like Mexico, the UK, and South Africa, where such taxes produced minimal impact. 

    He instead advocated for nutrition education, community-based fitness programmes, and collaborations between government and the food industry to promote healthy reformulations and informed choices.

    Dr. Iboma also urged journalists to report scientific findings responsibly. “When science is oversimplified, the public suffers. Media has a duty to educate, not alarm,” he said.

  • Igbobi, IGOT train surgeons to save limbs, improve trauma care in Nigeria

    Igbobi, IGOT train surgeons to save limbs, improve trauma care in Nigeria

    The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL), Lagos, in partnership with the Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Trauma (IGOT), has commenced the second phase of an international health workshop aimed at equipping surgeons with modern skills to save limbs and improve trauma care outcomes across Nigeria.

    The five-day programme, themed “Principles of Trauma Care and Soft Tissue Reconstruction,” opened on Wednesday at the hospital’s pavilion, drawing participants from across Nigeria as well as Kenya, Ghana, and the United States.

    Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Medical Director of NOHIL, Dr. Wakeel Lawal, said the training is part of efforts to advance the Federal Government’s renewed focus on population health through continuous skill enhancement for medical professionals.

    “Improving population health requires enhancing the capacity of our healthcare workforce. One of the ways to achieve this is by providing regular training that exposes our surgeons to international standards in trauma and reconstructive care.”

    He explained that while it is often expensive to send Nigerian doctors abroad for specialised training, hosting international experts locally allows for wider participation and greater impact.

    “By bringing experts from partner institutions to Nigeria, we are able to train more doctors at once. This ensures that the knowledge gained can be immediately applied to local cases and conditions.”

    Lawal noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, records a high rate of trauma cases from road crashes, industrial accidents, and other emergencies.

    He said the workshop is designed to address these realities and strengthen the capacity of Nigerian surgeons to deliver timely, life-saving interventions.

    “This programme will not only help trauma victims but also people with limb deformities such as bow legs or knock knees,” he added. “If such deformities are corrected early, patients can avoid future complications like severe osteoarthritis.”

    Chief Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Emeka Izuagba, who specialises in paediatric orthopaedics and limb reconstruction, said the training, known as the SMART Course (Soft-Tissue Management and Reconstructive Trauma), focuses on reducing the high rate of disability and amputation resulting from poorly managed trauma cases.

    “Trauma is one of the most common causes of disability and loss of livelihood in Nigeria. Through this training, we are teaching our doctors the best practices for managing both bone and soft tissue injuries, from accident scenes to full recovery.”

    He explained that the course also addresses the challenges of late presentation and the dangers of patronising traditional bone setters, which often worsen injuries.

    “Eighty per cent of amputations in orthopaedic hospitals are due to complications from unskilled treatment.

    Many simple fractures become life-threatening because patients first seek help from unqualified hands. This training aims to reduce such cases by strengthening the competence of certified trauma surgeons.”

    Izuagba added that IGOT and its partner, Sine Fracture Care International, have supported NOHIL with manpower, equipment, and training resources to make trauma care more affordable and effective.

    “Many of the instruments used in trauma management are imported and expensive.

    Our partnership helps us access donated equipment and teaching materials, which ultimately benefits our patients.” Izuagba explained.

    An orthopaedic trauma surgeon at the University of California, San Francisco, and Co-Director of IGOT, Dr. David Shearer, said the programme focuses on preventing infections and unnecessary amputations through improved surgical techniques.

    “This course teaches surgeons how to clean and stabilise complex limb injuries, cover exposed bone, and reconstruct damaged tissues,” Shearer said. “The goal is to restore function, prevent complications, and get patients back to normal life.”

    He praised the enthusiasm of Nigerian surgeons, describing the collaboration as a model for sustainable surgical education in Africa.

    The workshop includes hands-on training sessions, live surgical demonstrations, and lectures on advanced techniques in trauma and reconstructive surgery.

    Officials said the programme will create a stronger network of trained trauma surgeons capable of delivering high-quality care, reducing limb loss, and saving more lives nationwide.

  • HEFAMAA deepens public engagement to strengthen confidence in Lagos healthcare system

    HEFAMAA deepens public engagement to strengthen confidence in Lagos healthcare system

    The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has stepped up its public sensitisation efforts to build stronger confidence in Lagos State’s healthcare system. By engaging directly with communities, the agency is educating residents on how to identify and patronise only accredited health facilities, thereby promoting safety, accountability, and trust across the state’s health sector.

    Speaking at a sensitisation campaign and town hall meeting held at Apapa Local Government Area on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr Abiola Idowu, represented by Dr Daniel Olayinka, the Director of Monitoring and Inspection, said the initiative was part of the agency’s commitment to bridging the communication gap between regulators and the public — the ultimate beneficiaries of quality healthcare regulation. Dr Idowu explained that while HEFAMAA had maintained strong engagement with healthcare providers over the years, it had observed a worrying gap in public awareness about its mandate and functions. The agency, she said, realised that many residents still did not know how to distinguish registered health facilities from unlicensed or illegal ones — a situation that could expose them to substandard or unsafe care.

    “We brought members of the community together to explain the roles and responsibilities of the agency, especially our mandate to protect the health and safety of Lagosians. Before we register any health facility, we ensure it meets the minimum operational standards required to provide safe and effective services. This includes proper infrastructure, qualified personnel, and adherence to ethical practices,” she said.

    Dr Idowu emphasised that HEFAMAA’s renewed focus on public sensitisation was driven by the recognition that regulation alone is not enough — residents must also be informed and empowered to make the right health choices. She explained that all registered health facilities in Lagos State are issued a HEFAMAA identification logo, which must be displayed prominently within their premises, alongside a valid registration certificate from the agency. This, she said, serves as visible proof that a facility has been inspected, approved, and is operating within the state’s legal and professional framework.

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    “Whenever you want to access healthcare, look out for the HEFAMAA logo and registration certificate. Once you see these two items, you can be confident that the facility has met our minimum standards for safety and quality. Visiting unregistered centres puts your health and life at serious risk,” she advised.

    As part of efforts to enhance transparency, Idowu announced that Quick Response (QR) codes) are now being affixed to accredited facilities. With this innovation, patients can instantly verify a hospital’s registration status, confirm the services it is authorised to provide, and even send direct feedback to the agency on their healthcare experience. “We act immediately on public feedback. Our goal is not to punish but to ensure that every facility provides safe, ethical, and high-quality care to Lagos residents,” she said.

    She added that HEFAMAA maintains a responsive monitoring and enforcement system that acts swiftly when complaints or red flags are raised by the public. According to her, the agency’s approach prioritises collaboration and improvement over punishment. “Our aim is corrective, not punitive. We only sanction facilities when necessary, but once they meet our standards, they are reinstated,” she explained.

    Citing examples of the agency’s work, Dr Idowu revealed that HEFAMAA had in the past taken disciplinary actions against several facilities that failed to comply with operational standards. One notable case, she said, involved the Lagos Executive Cardiovascular Centre in Lekki, which was demoted from a specialist hospital to a general hospital after failing to meet environmental and structural requirements. The hospital was later reinstated after relocating to a compliant location and fulfilling all prescribed conditions. “This shows that HEFAMAA is not vindictive. Once facilities demonstrate compliance in environment, personnel and equipment, they are fully restored,” she noted.

    The town hall meeting attracted a wide cross-section of stakeholders — including community leaders, health professionals, traditional rulers, and residents — who commended HEFAMAA for bringing its activities closer to the people. Participants described the forum as timely and impactful, especially in a state where private and informal health facilities play a major role in service delivery. Many residents said the interaction helped them understand the importance of checking a facility’s accreditation status before seeking care.

    Dr Idowu reaffirmed that HEFAMAA would continue to organise similar engagements across all 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State as part of its statewide sensitisation campaign. “Our mission is to ensure that Lagosians have access to safe, affordable, and quality healthcare services. We are taking this message to every community because health regulation is only effective when the people are aware and involved,” she said.

    Participants at the forum emphasised that HEFAMAA’s community outreach initiatives demonstrate that effective health regulation is more than inspection—it thrives on active engagement with the very communities it serves. By equipping residents with knowledge on how to identify accredited health providers, the agency fosters accountability, shared responsibility, and informed decision-making among government institutions, health practitioners, and the public. Stakeholders highlighted that as Lagos rapidly expands and modernis    es its health infrastructure, such grassroots interventions are critical to safeguarding safety and upholding ethical standards. Beyond regulation, HEFAMAA’s approach cultivates trust between the public and health systems, ensuring that residents are not passive recipients but active participants in maintaining quality healthcare. By linking education, monitoring, and community engagement, the agency is creating a model where regulatory oversight and citizen awareness work hand in hand—a strategy experts say is essential for a resilient, equitable, and ethically grounded healthcare ecosystem in Lagos.

  • A community-led revolution against child malnutrition

    A community-led revolution against child malnutrition

    • From Ahmad Rufa’i, Dutse

    Jigawa State is setting a remarkable example in the fight against child malnutrition in Nigeria through its innovative Masaki Initiative, a community-driven programme that is saving lives, empowering mothers, and transforming nutrition practices at the grassroots level. The initiative has become a model for sustainable interventions, showing that addressing malnutrition effectively requires more than just food—it demands education, engagement, and empowerment.

    The Masaki Initiative, launched in 2018, is the product of a collaboration between the Jigawa State government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Central to the programme is its holistic approach: it combines nutrition education, preventive care, and community participation while leveraging locally available foods to prevent and treat Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Under the initiative, vulnerable groups—particularly children under five, adolescent girls, and pregnant women—receive targeted support that improves health outcomes while also promoting livelihoods.

    Recently, the Jigawa State government, in partnership with UNICEF, procured Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) worth N500 million. Additionally, 30 members of the State House of Assembly contributed N300 million, complementing the government’s N250 million counterpart funding, which UNICEF matched to facilitate the importation of therapeutic foods. These resources are vital in treating children already suffering from malnutrition, yet the programme’s focus extends far beyond emergency intervention.

    Over 300 communities in Jigawa are actively participating in the Masaki Initiative. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim, noted that the programme has reduced malnutrition in the state by 10 per cent. He described it as a “revolutionary model that is saving children’s lives while empowering women and building community resilience.”

    Malnutrition remains a pressing challenge across Nigeria. According to UNICEF, it contributes—directly or indirectly—to 45 per cent of all child deaths in the country. Conflict, displacement, and food insecurity have intensified the problem, making Nigeria home to the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and the second highest globally, with more than nine million children wasted. In Jigawa, 64 per cent of children are stunted, 9.6 per cent wasted, and 81.9 per cent suffer from anaemia, while over 80 per cent live in food poverty.

    What distinguishes the Masaki Initiative is its community-focused, home-grown approach. Unlike conventional interventions that rely primarily on food distribution, Masaki addresses the root causes of malnutrition. Women are empowered economically through small-scale cooperatives and backyard gardens, cultivating nutrient-rich crops such as moringa, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens. These ingredients are then used to prepare affordable, high-protein meals, providing children with essential nutrition while generating sustainable income for families.

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    Preventive care is another cornerstone of the programme. Masaki sessions, held twice weekly at designated sites, provide health education on maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, water sanitation, hygiene, and cooking nutritious meals using local ingredients. Children at risk of severe malnutrition are referred to Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding (OTP) centres, bridging gaps between households and health facilities. Local health centres report fewer admissions for malnutrition-related complications, a testament to the programme’s effectiveness.

    The initiative has drawn interest from other states seeking to replicate Jigawa’s success. On October 29, 2025, a delegation from Kwara State, supported by UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, visited Jigawa for a four-day learning programme. Delegates toured Masaki sites in Dutse, Kafin-Hausa, and Ringim local government areas, witnessing first-hand improved child growth indicators, higher exclusive breastfeeding rates, and increased community engagement. Dr. Mary Arinde, Kwara’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, commended Jigawa for mobilising women and producing measurable results.

    Community volunteers are the backbone of Masaki. Mrs. Raihanatu Kamulu, a volunteer at the Bulutu site in Ringim, explained that volunteers are trained to identify children at risk, educate mothers, and refer cases to health facilities. Mothers like Karima Sabitu of Dabi community have seen transformative results: her previously malnourished twins are now healthy thanks to meals prepared from local grains, groundnuts, and vegetables. Community leaders have become more involved, hosting dialogues on child health and encouraging men to support household nutrition.

    Nationally, the Masaki Initiative is gaining recognition. States including Katsina, Borno, and Zamfara have sent delegations to learn from Jigawa’s model. Deputy Director Abdulrazak Babatunde of the Kwara State Ministry for Local Government described Masaki as “a model for the nation,” emphasising that scaling community-led initiatives backed by strong political will could accelerate Nigeria’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on zero hunger and good health. Nutritionists also praise the programme for its preventive and educational components. Mrs. Hauwa Jibril, a nutritionist involved in Masaki, noted that sessions target young caregivers, aged 9–15, to instil early understanding of nutrition and hygiene. Weekly sessions include practical demonstrations and meal preparation, which mothers adopt at home, ensuring continuity of care. In essence, the Masaki Initiative has transformed the fight against child malnutrition into a movement—driven by mothers, sustained by communities, and guided by evidence. Healthier children, empowered women, and engaged communities are the visible outcomes. Jigawa’s experience underscores a vital lesson: when communities are equipped with knowledge, resources, and ownership, they can nourish their children and, by extension, secure the nation’s future. What began as a modest programme has grown into a transformative force, offering hope that no Nigerian child will ever suffer from malnutrition for lack of nutritious meals.

  • The Unspoken Truth about Nigerian Diets

    The Unspoken Truth about Nigerian Diets

    Let’s be real — Nigerians have an unashamed, passionate affair with food. It’s in the bubbling stew that perfumes the air, the smoky allure of suya sizzling under the night sky, the vibrant glow of jollof rice at every gathering, and the satisfying heaviness that comes after a plate of pounded yam crowned with egusi soup. For us, food isn’t mere sustenance — it’s culture, connection, and pure joy served on a plate.

    But behind our culinary pride lies an uncomfortable truth we often ignore: our diets are quietly killing us. Across the country, lifestyle diseases — once thought to be “Western problems” — are now filling Nigerian hospitals. High blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes are on a steep rise, affecting both the rich and the poor, the old and the young. The culprit? Not just stress or bad luck, but what we put on our plates every day.

    Traditional Nigerian meals, in their purest forms, were once models of balance. Think of millet, beans, vegetables, fish and fruits — meals rich in fibre, protein and natural nutrients. Our grandparents worked hard on the farms and ate simple, wholesome foods that nourished rather than burdened their bodies. Fast forward to today, and that balance has been lost. Urban life and fast food culture have quietly transformed our eating habits. We now live in an age where breakfast often means sugary tea with white bread, lunch is jollof rice with fried meat, and dinner is instant noodles or pastries washed down with a soft drink. We’ve replaced natural ingredients with refined ones; swapped fresh produce for processed convenience; and traded moderation for indulgence. The result? A population that’s well-fed but undernourished — overweight but energy-deprived.

    Three ingredients sit at the centre of Nigeria’s diet crisis: salt, sugar and oil. We add salt as though it’s a blessing, sugar as though it’s love, and oil as though it’s life itself. Whether it’s in our stews, soups, or snacks, these three combine to make meals addictive — and dangerous. The World Health Organisation recommends no more than five grams of salt per day (that’s about one teaspoon). The average Nigerian easily doubles or triples that. The result is high blood pressure, heart strain or kidney problems.

    Sugar is no less innocent. From sweetened beverages to doughnuts, meat pies and processed cereals, the average Nigerian consumes far more sugar than the body can handle. And our bodies respond in kind — by developing insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity. Then comes oil. Palm oil, groundnut oil, vegetable oil — we pour them with generosity, often until the stew glistens like a mirror. Nutritionists constantly warn that many of these oils, especially when reused for frying, contain harmful compounds that damage blood vessels and raise cholesterol levels.

    It’s ironic that in a land so blessed with natural produce, many of us eat as though we live in a desert of nutrition. From yams to plantains, okra, moringa, and leafy greens — we have one of the richest food baskets in Africa. Yet, many Nigerians would rather grab a plate of fries or white rice than a bowl of beans or vegetables. Part of the problem is perception. “Healthy food” has been wrongly branded as boring or “for the sick.” Meanwhile, the most colourful and flavourful meals — loaded with vegetables, herbs, and whole grains — are often the most nourishing.

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    Nutrition experts warn that we are raising a generation that equates satisfaction with sweetness and health with hardship. The shift from home-cooked meals to convenience foods is eroding not just our health, but our food culture itself. The consequences of poor diet are not abstract. They show up in the faces of families drained by medical bills for preventable diseases. They appear in workplaces where fatigue and poor concentration are the norm. They manifest in communities where obesity and malnutrition coexist side by side.

    Studies by the Nigerian Heart Foundation and the World Health Organisation show that diet-related diseases now account for a growing share of premature deaths in Nigeria. In Lagos alone, one in four adults is hypertensive. In some urban centres, nearly one in five people has pre-diabetes — and most don’t even know it. The bitter truth is that our eating habits are quietly shortening our lives.

    The solution begins with awareness — and small, practical changes. Go natural by eating foods in their closest form to nature. Choose unprocessed grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Control portions; not every meal needs to fill the plate. Eat to satisfaction, not to stupor. Reduce oil and salt; let flavour come from spices, not sodium. Drink more water; replace sugary drinks with water, zobo, or unsweetened smoothies. Plan your meals; healthy eating is easier when it’s intentional. Reclaiming our health means reclaiming our food culture — returning to the wisdom of our forebears who valued freshness, moderation and balance.

    Food is one of the most beautiful expressions of our identity as Nigerians. But it must also be an expression of wisdom. As we celebrate our jollof, stews, and soups, let’s remember that true enjoyment comes not just from taste, but from vitality — the energy to live, work, and dream fully. The unspoken truth about Nigerian diets is that they hold the power to heal or to harm. The choice, ultimately, is ours.

  • MWAN Lagos unveils bold plan to boost maternal, child health

    MWAN Lagos unveils bold plan to boost maternal, child health

    By Olabisi Azeez

    The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Lagos State branch, has set the stage for a renewed drive to strengthen maternal and child healthcare in underserved communities, unveiling a comprehensive plan that blends sensitisation, education, and outreach programmes. The announcement came during MWAN Lagos’ 24th Biennial Conference and Investiture Ceremony, held over the weekend, under the theme: “Roadmap to Strengthening Healthcare Services for Women & Children: Policies, Politics & Participation.”

    The ceremony also marked the swearing-in of Dr. Ime Edwin Okon as the 25th president of MWAN Lagos. A public health physician and Medical Director of Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, Dr. Okon emphasised that reducing maternal and infant mortality would be a defining priority of her tenure. “Childbirth must never cost a woman her life. No woman should die in the process of her natural duty of creation,” she stated. Dr. Okon outlined the association’s strategy to reach hard-to-access communities, focusing on educating pregnant women about early warning signs and danger signals during pregnancy. By teaching women to recognise these red flags, she said, families can seek timely care and prevent avoidable tragedies.

    She also warned against delays in treating sick children, noting that preventable deaths often occur when families wait too long before visiting health facilities. “Across our 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs, there are functional primary healthcare centres with doctors and midwives available. People should know where to go,” she said. The new president pledged to leverage both traditional and digital media platforms to extend MWAN Lagos’ reach. “We will use Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and all digital platforms, alongside radio, television, and print media, to engage households and raise awareness,” she said.

    Reflecting on her tenure, outgoing President Dr. Funmi Ige highlighted the gains made over the past two years. Under her leadership, MWAN Lagos advanced HPV vaccination drives, increased cervical and breast cancer awareness, and conducted impactful community outreaches. “By the grace of God, we have been able to impact the lives of women and children through community outreaches, free surgeries, and awareness campaigns. Over 1,000 girls were immunised with the HPV vaccine in collaboration with the Lagos State Department of Health,” she said.

    Dr. Ige acknowledged persistent challenges in healthcare delivery, particularly the low doctor-to-patient ratio and the ongoing “Japa syndrome,” which sees skilled medical professionals leaving the country. “Lagos is not doing badly, but we can do better. We need more medical personnel and stronger systems to serve our growing population,” she added.

    In her acceptance speech, Dr. Okon expressed gratitude to her mentors and predecessors, recognising the association’s 49-year legacy. “I joined MWAN in 2005, and today, 20 years later, I am privileged to be sworn in as president. Our mission remains to strengthen advocacy for women’s health and ensure MWAN Lagos remains a beacon of excellence,” she said. Dr. Okon also shared her vision for the association over the next biennium. She committed to reinforcing membership engagement, mentorship, health education, and community outreaches. Mental health and well-being among members will also be prioritised, alongside deeper partnerships with government agencies and private organisations. “MWAN Lagos is a family, and together, we will ensure that every medical woman feels seen, valued, and supported,” she emphasised.

    The conference featured contributions from prominent healthcare leaders, including Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). He called for strong political will and resource allocation to reduce maternal and child mortality, particularly in rural areas. Represented by obstetrician Prof. Yusuf Oshodi, LASUTH highlighted that women constitute about 70 percent of global healthcare needs, yet maternal and child mortality remains alarmingly high, with millions of preventable deaths each year.

    MWAN National President, Dr. Zainab Muhammad-Idris, commended the Lagos chapter for the timely and visionary theme. Dr. Abiola Idowu, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, lauded the contributions of medical women in healthcare delivery, advocacy, and public health initiatives. Outgoing leaders and past presidents also took time to underscore MWAN’s enduring values of professionalism, mentorship, and service. Dr. Helen Boyo-Ekwueme, a former Chief Consultant Pathologist in Lagos State and a veteran in medical leadership, reaffirmed her commitment to women’s empowerment and community development, noting her work with the Boyo Next Generation Family Foundation and the Itsekiri Sisters Forum.

    The conference concluded with a resounding call to action: to expand healthcare access, mentor younger colleagues, and promote leadership and gender equity in medicine. For MWAN Lagos, the message is clear — the health of women and children, particularly in underserved communities, must remain a national priority. Through education, outreach, and strategic partnerships, the association aims to ensure that quality healthcare is not a privilege but a right, and that preventable maternal and child deaths become a thing of the past.

  • Fed Govt to advance digital health with Artificial Intelligence integration

    Fed Govt to advance digital health with Artificial Intelligence integration

    • By Olabisi Azeez

    The Federal Government is laying the groundwork for a robust digital health infrastructure that will integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Nigeria’s healthcare system, enhancing service delivery, policy formulation, and disease surveillance across the country. Dr. Leke Ojewale, Senior Technical Advisor to the Coordinating Minister of Health on Digital Health, highlighted these plans during a capacity-building workshop on AI for Public Health held in Abuja. Organised by Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development (AI4SID) in partnership with key health agencies, the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of AI technologies and promote their safe, responsible application in healthcare.

    Ojewale explained that the Federal Ministry of Health, through its Nigerian Digital Health Architecture (NDHA), is building a unified framework for AI deployment in the healthcare ecosystem. “We are building the NDHA to ensure all AI tools in health plug into a single system. Registries for clients, facilities, and healthcare workers form the backbone of this framework,” he said, noting that these registries are crucial for identifying patients, tracking care, and monitoring service delivery. A key component, the Health Information Exchange, will enable hospitals and providers to share data securely, creating unified digital health records that support AI-driven diagnostics and treatment while safeguarding patient information.

    Dr. Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West African Institute of Public Health, described AI as transformative, emphasising that it complements rather than replaces human expertise. “Those who refuse to adapt risk losing relevance. AI must be a partner, not a threat,” he said, highlighting its potential to drive economic recovery, talent retention, and innovation.

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    Dr. Bunmi Ajala, National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, added that AI could address Nigeria’s diagnostic, logistical, and disease surveillance challenges, enhancing outbreak detection, personalised medicine, and resource allocation. He stressed the importance of human oversight to maintain accountability and public trust.

    Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of AI4SID, explained that the organisation is advancing AI for social good, focusing on health, education, and gender inclusion. The workshop brought together professionals from ministries, NCDC, and the Primary Health Care Development Agency to co-create frameworks for ethical and safe AI implementation. AI4SID has also launched an AI for Social Good Hub in Abuja to foster cross-sector collaboration between health and technology experts. “AI can help Nigeria leapfrog challenges in health, education, and climate resilience. Collaboration, people-centric policies, and responsible innovation are key,” Kakanfo said.

    The workshop forms part of preparations for Nigeria’s first National AI in Health Conference, slated for May 2026 in Abuja, which will unveil strategies and frameworks guiding AI integration into the nation’s healthcare sector.

  • Tera P90 pulse healing machines knocking on your door

    Tera P90 pulse healing machines knocking on your door

    This is about the second time in 20 years that I will discuss pulse energy building and healing devices in this column. The long time span has nothing to do with disinterest in them. Every week, new concepts of health rescue lines keep popping up that it is increasingly difficult to keep pace or space with them.

    The first Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy machine (PEMF) was introduced to me by Dr Didigu, a conventional medical doctor now of Blessed memory , through Eno Asam, a younger acquaintance of mine in 1977, during my youth service days in Calabar. Even when she relocated to Abuja to work at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Eno Asam kept the link with this column, and became inspired enough by it to enrol for physical week-end courses at The College of Natural Medicine on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Back in Abuja, she met Dr Didigu in the course of her work as an Alternative Medicine practitioner. Dr Didigu sent the device to me, and it was of great value in some of the therapies he suggested it for. In Lagos, some orthopaedic doctors and physiotherapists incorporated it into their practice. I found it relieved the pain of arthritis. However, information about how the machine worked was scanty, understandably because there were few studies behind it. After I spoke with Dr Didigu, I gave my device to a Director-General in the Lagos State Civil Service whose daughter periodically suffered from debilitating endometriosis . We lost contact. Soon after, Dr Didigu passed, and my interest in this branch of non-invasive medicine faded. A few years ago, however, Dr Sam Asemuha, of Lagos, revived my interest in this healing device when he invited me to a marketing group his daughter who was a dentist had just formed to push a PEMF machine brand through multi-level marketing network. For reasons that my hands were filled with work and partly because I thought the device was expensive, I did not follow up the invitation. Hardly would anyone have guessed then, as Americans are won’t to say , that…”You aint seen nothing yet”. For the price of the brand which caught my fancy now is topsy turvy, as we also say although the marketing plan has a delicious icing on the cake in the view of the marketing company, OLYLIFE of Singapore.

    My duty here is to the view, as simply as possible and as briefly as I can, the concept of the PULSE medical device which any person can use at home for personal therapies and which medical doctors , physiotherapists and other care givers can add to their arsenal of the ever growing therapeutic devices.

    What is Pulse?

    The conception has not significantly changed from the initial understanding of it several decades ago. It was and, still is, a unit of energy found to be pulsating through everything existent in the universe . Here, to not digress into spiritualism, I must resist the temptation to discuss understanding of energy which many persons may not agree with for various reasons. Suffice it to say, however, that we can never get to the bottom of everything if we do not understand the roots. We must , therefore, not be superficial in even any intellectual engagement, if we are to be well acquainted with the labour of all those persons who are called upon to bring us help on earth , and to appreciate their endeavours. We enjoy electricity and the cell phone today, and fly about in airplanes without recognising that the inventions cost the lives of some persons.

    We should be able to use and to enjoy any pulse or PEMF therapy device, not just this one, that is not just PULSE TERA P90, when we recognise with attendant spirit that the person who configured it on the earth is NOT the original inventor. That person is only a tool in the hands of persons elsewhere who, literally speaking, “breathe” through him. We are very religious, if not spiritual, in Nigeria, so we should be able to follow such discussions as this with interest. They are meant to not only facilitate product presentations but to also inwardly bestir the reader and elevate his or herself consciousness beyond the mundane level of Consciousness of Existence. Even animals are conscious of their existence. They flee when we wish to kill or harm them. But , beyond that, what are they other than animals? On the other hand, self consciousness situated us within a structural framework which is our duty to explore. This is a conception of existence which gave rise to PULSE technology at the service of medicine today.

    I promised to not digress too far here , although when I address matters at public engagements, the guests hardly like an encore. So, please permit that I quickly add, as part of my discussion of PULSE medical technology, that Israel has developed a pair of glasses which enable the blind to see when they wear them. Interestingly, such persons become blind again when they take off the glasses! Isn’t this intriguing? What is going on? Professor Yamanaka, Nobel Prize winner for stem cell surgery, is performing a more permanent vision restoration in Japan with herbal poultices. It should be amazing to many sighted persons that blind persons see in their dreams , even when they find themselves in places they had not sighted before their impairment. Equally intriguing should be the fact that blind persons sometimes see through their so-called blind physical eyes but not the physical environment. Church persons will call such seeing VISIONS. In such seeing or “visions”, scenes of neighbourhoods, persons, traffic etc roll past their inner gaze. To intuitively follow or correctly interprete them, they come to the recognition of guidance from a higher order. That was partly what I meant when I said inventors on earth are not the original sources of inventions. Thus, whatever we are able to develop on earth is a mere physical form of what has been developed elsewhere and let down to the earth through someone who was found suitable to receive and to actualise it who, in many cases , had been specially prepared up there, who probably was party to the evolution of these things and most likely came to the earth to receive them and give them physical form.

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    Energy pulsating everywhere

    Throughout the universe, energy is pulsating. Many people say the original source of these pulsations is energy of the highest, unfathomable quantum which exerts pressure on everything to warm them up and keep them perpetually in motion. The energy which pulsates through different places and forms in the universe are varied by voltage. Thus, the energy which generates thunder cannot be the energy the heart requires to drive the bloodstream throughout the body, or the energy the brain requires to co-ordinate all activities of the body, or that which the eyes require to see, the intestines need to move food wastes out of the body.

    Quantum energy

    The discovery that every existent form bears energy within soon led to the knowledge that human bodies exist likewise. That understanding gave rise to the doctor infusing a sick, weak patient with a drop of electrolytes. It has, also, been recognised that the stars, the sun and the moon are not decorations in the sky. Nor are the forests, rocks, the soil and the earth. They are pulsating with energy which are helping to continually balance and rebalance energy pulsating through the human body. We have to learn as well that fresh foods such as vine ripened fruits and vegetables give us more energy than when they are stored or preserved or cooked. Thus, our health is doomed by our civilisation which imposes upon us preserved and cooked foods but factory processed foods as well. Always, we need to envelope SEMYOR KIRLIAN, wherever he is, with our grateful and loving wishes for his laborious and marvelous work which invited our attention to these discomfeitures(Please see Semyor Kirlian photography on the internet). Professor Pottenger deserves no less from us for his 10 year experiments now called POTTENGER’S CATS (Please see internet) in which he showed that cats that fed on cooked food had shorter lifespans , suffered degenerative diseases and were infertile, whereas those on raw diet lived longer and fared better.

    As if Mother Nature anticipated this malfeance from us self serving humans (animals do not behave like us unless we force them), the way was paved as earlier described to the availability of QUANTUM ENERGY minerals from volcanic activities in the earth millenia ago. Some of them were even pushed near the surface for us to easily access. Isn’t this a gift over which we are killing ourselves today in Zamfara and other states? Lithium, which traverses many states underground, is what everyone who understands energy worldwide is hunting for. And, guess what, Nigeria’s lithium, like our crude petroleum, has been found to be the purest and the most energy suffused. The harvest of it will continue to be a source of pressure on the economy, security and polity of Nigeria for a long time to come.

    To shorten this preamble in the introduction of PULSE technology, quantum energy products are everywhere today. I have a pair of quantum energy eye glasses. They are meant to help to energise the eyes and to protect them against the damaging blue rays of sunlight by filtering out blue wave length of sunlight which falls on the eyes. Constitutionally, the eyes of some persons are not strong enough to withstand these days and therefore, may develop cataracts of the eye lens, glaucoma, oxidative stress, inflammation, nerve damage, macular degeneration etc. Some persons wear quantum energy finger rings, bracelets, bangles, shoes , wrist watches, boxers for their prostate glands, caps for better brain function, to energise their bodies. Some drink water only from quantum energy cups or eat their meals in quantum energy bowls . And, for some time, cook ware have joined the bandwagon of quantum energy content. Chymall and, now, Double Plus and Shineway  became leaders of Nigeria’s quantum energy market.

    The pendulum swings

    Now, the market is swinging towards Pulse Technology. Different models have appeared in the market. Some of them target optimal service, affordability, durability etc. Well known brand names abroad include curatron, iMRS 2000, Tesla fit, Magna wave, healthyline, Bemer, QRS Quantron, flex pulse, earth pulse, infopathy IC Hummer etc.

    I was persuaded to enter this conversation with PULSE TERA P90 because of a catchy explanation in the product description. After all of the bla bla bla of which PULSE technology followers should be familiar, the peculiarity of this brand, which I believe other brands also exhibit, was narrowed down to…Detoxification.

    In all treatment goals or observances, many leading lightes in Alternative Medicine agree that detoxification is the first step to take in all healing procedures. Conventional medicine should be the leader in this but it seldom bothers about it. It believes too heavily in the power of injections and drugs, to alter illness scenarios. However, this is contrary to good reasoning. If we wish to move into an apartment in a newly constructed building, do we not first spring clean it? If we wish to cultivate a farm, do we not first eliminate the weeds? Do we perfume dirty, stinking clothes or we launder them? If we are hungry, do we cook vegetables and pepper procured from the grocery place without first curing them?

    Pulse Tera P90

    The product literature of this Pulse brand device takes us back to the foundation of human health or disease. The human cell. There are about 100 TRILLION of them in the average adult human body. Their primary duty is to provide us with energy as your car battery provides the engine with energy. If the car battery is flat, the engine is good as immobile. Among us all, we can easily tell those persons whose muscles or bones are weak. We can tell the dull from the brilliant on account of their brain power. So can we tell the scatterbrain who is like a rolling stone with no moss on it. Weakened blood can imply depression or procession as I have explained in the last two articles ( please see John Olufemi Kusa on face book under the title 2025 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: DEPRESSION, POSSESION.

    Pulse Tera P90

    Reminds us there are batteries in our cells , and they must not go flat if we are to remain healthy. Two of the leading early pioneers of this concept are Richard D Moore and Gary D Webb, co authors of Hypertension: The K Factor. “k” is the chemical formula for potassium, which is plentiful in fruits, vegetables and yam and potato among other food items. Every cell is covered by a membrane, like the skin. On the membrane are inlets for oxygen and nutrients and outlets for carbon dioxide, wastes and toxins. What enhances these movements under the Law  of  Motion I mentioned earlier is an electrical battery powered by Sodium and Potassium, two well known electrolytes. They must exist in a balanced ratio of 1 to 4 ( sodium to potassium). Too much potassium means sodium will be chased out of the body, and too much sodium causes potassium exit, hypertension and tumours, including cancers. Potassium is the salt inside the cell. Sodium exists in the interstitial fluid which surrounds the cell. Sodium tries to enter. Potassium pushes it out. Their movements create an electrical condition known as THE SODIUM/ POTASSIUM PUMP or THE SODIUM BATTERY. When this battery is flat, motion in and out of the cell is sluggish, the body lacks enough energy and sickness or disease and mental confusion may occur.

    PULSE TERA P90 reminds us that blockages in the inlet and outlet channels on the membrane may often cause this challenge. We cannot rule out nutritional deficiencies and over exertions, though. Blockages are inescapable from deposits of wastes and heavy metals such as lead, Mercury, cadmium , soft plastics etc. I have met with sickly persons in their seventies who have not heard of DETOXIFICATION all their lives, let alone done it regularly. We all drink water from plastic satchets, store water in plastic overhead tanks, drink bottled water and eat food in take-away packs. It never occurs to us that something of these plastics, like that of food chopping boards, get into the water and food.

    When toxins cannot leave the cell wall fast enough and nutrients cannot get in well and fast enough and OXIDATIVE STRESS, MALNUTRITION and DISEASE and DECAY take their toll within the cell, DETOXIFICATION, and not drugs and injections, is the first step to take. I agree with Oly life, makers of PULSE TERA P90. Different parts of this machine, which is said to have been developed from seven technologies, are made in Germany, Switzerland and Japan, and assembled in China. It hit the market about three years ago, is available in more than 200 countries already, and found its way to Nigeria through Ghana which got it through Cote d’ voire.

    This machine generates the right amount of energy voltage into the moribund tissue which would excite the cells to self-detoxify. By this conception, it is understood that a) sick cells are cold cells b) Cold cells are sick cells c) Warmth from heat produces pressure and pressure enacts motion d) Every living form must be in perpetual motion otherwise it would stagnate , wilt and perish. Isn’t this why the earth, the sun and the stars, like the galaxies and the universe itself is in motion? ) Heat from PULSE TERA P90 brand, therefore and thereby awakens, sleepy, dull, languid and dying cells. What I say of this PULSE device I believe applies to the others as well, although we cannot rule out comparative advantages , as in the models of other products such as motor cars, based on the receptivity of the designer to inflowing extra terrestrial ideas. Dr Didigu emphasised the healing process, especially in bone fractures and open wounds saying the energy influx mobilised healing agents to damaged sights faster than they otherwise would have arrived there, and with more energy work with. I personally witnessed many long standing ulcers almost immediately start to heal and actually heal.

    History of Pulse

    Interest in pulse machine medicine dates from about the 1960s when the U.S National Aeronautics and space Administration (NASA) began to study electromagnetic fields and cellular repair for the treatment of astronauts who may return to the earth with languid cells. Dr Robert Becker studied electromagnetic fields effects on cellular repair and regeneration. Dr Andrew A Marino studied therapeutic application, pain relief and checks on inflammation. Since then, there have been many healing claims for brain tumour. Their efforts have yielded recognition of PULSE medicine by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for non-union fractures, 2011 for depression, in 2015 classifying it as of being of lower risk to health as previously thought.

    Tera P90 is knocking on your door. It is there, waiting, with three other siblings. For registered members, the different types, excluding shipping cost 575 USD, 650 USD, 1000 USD and 1,500 USD. They may be worth their value in gold.

  • NBSA moves to harmonize blood cost nationwide

    NBSA moves to harmonize blood cost nationwide

    …as experts call for ethical practice and fair pricing in blood services

    The federal government, through the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), has initiated moves to harmonise the cost of blood across hospitals in Nigeria as part of efforts to ensure fairness, transparency, and accessibility for patients in need of transfusion.

    The Director General of the Agency, Professor Saleh Yuguda, disclosed this in Abuja during a workshop organized for Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC) members. 

    He said the harmonisation effort became necessary following public outcry over the high and inconsistent charges placed on blood by hospitals across the country.

    According to him, many patients have complained of being subjected to what they describe as an “undue financial burden,” with some reportedly paying for blood that is not eventually used—without refunds.

    “Blood is a public good. What we are doing is to ensure that the system works in a fair and transparent manner, so that Nigerians can have access to safe blood when they need it, without being exploited,” Professor Yuguda said.

    He explained that although some stakeholders have called for the introduction of full government subsidy on blood, a partial subsidy already exists. 

    “The government currently bears the major cost involved in the collection, screening, and processing of blood,” he said.

    The NBSA boss noted that the Agency’s next step is to engage with hospital administrators and state health authorities to align their pricing systems with national guidelines once the harmonization framework is finalized.

    In the interim, Professor Yuguda hinted that the Agency has opened discussions with manufacturers and suppliers of blood consumables—particularly producers of blood bags—to address the issue of high operating costs. The talks, he said, are aimed at “centralizing and stabilizing the prices of these essential items to reflect Nigeria’s economic realities.”

    He emphasised that a more affordable and predictable pricing regime for consumables would help hospitals deliver transfusion services more efficiently and ethically, thereby reducing the burden on patients.

    Adding his voice to the debate, Professor Philip Olatunji, a professor of haematology and transfusion medicine, decried what he described as the growing commercialization of blood services in some facilities. 

    He warned that prioritising profit over humanity defeats the essence of medical practice.

    “There must be a sense of good conscience in practice,” he stated. “You cannot claim to exist to save lives and then end up losing lives because of your revenue drive. The blood service should not be a profit-making venture; it should be a life-saving responsibility.”

    Professor Olatunji called on healthcare providers to strike a balance between sustainability and compassion, adding that “moderation is a virtue the system must rediscover.”

    Despite the positive outlook, some health policy experts at the workshop cautioned that implementing a uniform price structure may prove challenging within Nigeria’s deregulated healthcare system, where hospitals operate under diverse administrative and financial frameworks.

    They, however, agreed that the NBSA’s harmonization plan represents a step in the right direction toward building a more transparent and equitable blood transfusion service nationwide.

    The workshop, attended by hospital transfusion officers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, also discussed the importance of establishing active Hospital Transfusion Committees to ensure compliance with national policies, improve blood utilization, and promote patient safety.

    For the NBSA, harmonizing the cost of blood is not just an administrative reform—it is a moral imperative to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s transfusion system and uphold the sanctity of human life.

  • Tinubu celebrates Oloriegbe at 65, hails his service to nation, health sector

    Tinubu celebrates Oloriegbe at 65, hails his service to nation, health sector

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Authority of Nigeria (NHIAN), on his 65th birthday, describing him as a progressive leader who has made remarkable contributions to national development, particularly in the health sector.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President praised Senator Oloriegbe’s long-standing commitment to improving Nigeria’s healthcare system as a lawmaker, public health specialist, and advocate for universal health coverage.

    A medical practitioner by training, Senator Oloriegbe is renowned for his work in public health, organisational process consulting, and advocacy for mental health and cancer care. President Tinubu said his expertise and passion have helped shape important national reforms over the years.

    The President recalled appointing Senator Oloriegbe as Chairman of the NHIAN Governing Council on March 11, 2025, noting that his leadership continues to drive improvements in the country’s health insurance architecture.

    Before the appointment, Oloriegbe represented Kwara Central in the 9th Senate, where he chaired the Senate Committee on Health and the National Assembly Joint Committee on Health.

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    He was also a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003, serving as Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Committee on Health.

    President Tinubu commended the former senator for sponsoring several impactful bills during his tenure, many of which became laws that significantly transformed Nigeria’s health sector.

    One of such landmark legislations is the National Health Insurance Authority Act, which made health insurance mandatory nationwide and established the Vulnerable Group Fund to protect disadvantaged Nigerians.

    “Senator Oloriegbe is a progressive who has done a lot for Kwara and Nigeria. In his four years in the Senate, he sponsored many bills, some of which eventually became laws that have helped to positively change the landscape of the Nigerian Health Sector,” President Tinubu stated.

    He prayed for the celebrant’s continued good health and many more years of impactful service.