The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

  • Why health reforms must begin from the grassroots, by Pate

    Why health reforms must begin from the grassroots, by Pate

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a new era of health policy-making rooted in the daily realities and lived experiences of Nigerians. He said this during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Dr Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust, held in Abuja. Represented by Dr Nse Akpan, Director of Port Health Services in the Ministry, Pate said health reforms would only succeed if policies reflect the true needs, values, and voices of people at the grassroots — from villages and marketplaces to schools, farms, churches, and mosques.

    “Policy design in Nigeria will not succeed unless it resonates in the communities, in the marketplace, in the farm, in the school, in churches, in mosques, and in clinics. That is where policy truly works,” he said. “If we sit down here and say we have a lot of failed policies without engaging the grassroots, then the government has not done anything.”

    Pate emphasised that inclusion in health policy development must go beyond fairness to become a strategic tool for effectiveness. The voices of youths, women, and marginalised groups, he said, are essential to crafting policies that deliver real impact. “When we talk about inclusion, it is not just about being fair; it is about being effective. Our policies must work for the people where they live and learn,” he added.

    Read Also: Senate okays Bill to double health funding

    The minister also commended DRASA Health Trust for its decade-long contribution to Nigeria’s public health resilience. He described the organisation as a model for community-driven action, lauding its efforts in promoting hygiene, strengthening community surveillance, and raising awareness on disease prevention. According to him, DRASA’s approach aligns with the “One Health” principle — the understanding that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected. “Our health and prosperity as a nation depend on policies that integrate human, animal, and environmental health,” he noted. “That is why we are promoting the One Health approach, because health cannot thrive in isolation.”

    Pate reaffirmed that health security is a collective responsibility, cautioning against complacency in the face of growing public health threats. “Health security is everyone’s business. It wasn’t the business of Adadevoh alone; it is the business of us all. We do not know when or where the next outbreak will occur, but if we remain united and proactive, we can prevent crises and protect our people,” he said.

    He disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with partners like DRASA, plans to train 50,000 additional health workers to serve in schools and communities across the country. The initiative, he explained, will scale up health education, hygiene, and infection prevention practices — helping to build a new generation of health champions nationwide.

    The minister further urged the media, private sector, and community influencers to support ongoing efforts to promote accurate information, transparency, and local innovation in the health sector. “The task before us,” he said, “is to make our health system inclusive, efficient, and resilient to both present and future threats.”

    Founded in memory of Dr Stella Adadevoh, the Nigerian physician who heroically halted the spread of Ebola in 2014, DRASA has become a beacon of preparedness and professional excellence. When Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos with Ebola symptoms, Adadevoh insisted he be quarantined despite intense pressure, an act that saved countless lives but ultimately cost her own.

  • The Growing Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance

    The Growing Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance

    Antimicrobial resistance is not tomorrow’s problem — it’s today’s reality. Every careless use of antibiotics weakens the very drugs that once saved lives. If we keep ignoring the warning signs, the world could slip back into a time when minor infections kill. The power to prevent that lies in our hands.

    It begins with something as ordinary as a fever. A mother rushes her child to the hospital, expecting a quick fix — a few antibiotics, a few days of rest. But days turn into weeks. The child doesn’t improve. The drugs don’t work. The doctor frowns, orders more tests, tries stronger medicines. Still nothing. What once was a routine infection has turned into a fight for survival. This is not an isolated story. It’s happening quietly, every day, across Nigeria. The culprit? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — a slow but relentless crisis that is rewriting the rules of modern medicine.

    AMR occurs when microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites — evolve and stop responding to the medicines meant to kill them. It means that infections we once treated easily are now harder, sometimes impossible, to cure. The World Health Organisation lists AMR among the top ten global public health threats. Already, it claims five million lives every year. In Nigeria alone, more than 65,000 people die annually from drug-resistant infections — more than HIV and malaria combined.

    The implications are staggering. Beyond the human toll, experts warn that AMR costs Nigeria billions of naira yearly — in prolonged hospital stays, productivity losses, and the heartbreak of untreatable illnesses. But behind every statistic lies a name, a face, a family — people whose lives are being undone by bacteria that have learned to fight back.

    How did we get here? The answer lies in how freely — and carelessly — we use antibiotics. Walk into almost any pharmacy in Lagos, Kano, or Aba, and you can buy antibiotics without a prescription. Many Nigerians pop them for malaria, typhoid, or even a common cold. Some stop midway through treatment once they “feel better.” But that single act gives surviving bacteria the chance to adapt — to grow smarter, tougher, deadlier. Over time, they evolve into “superbugs” that no longer respond to medicine.

    And it’s not just about human misuse. Across farms in Nigeria, antibiotics are routinely mixed into animal feed or sprayed on crops to make them grow faster and ward off disease. These drugs then seep into the soil, the water, and eventually, the food we eat. Resistant bacteria don’t need visas — they travel easily from farms to kitchens, from animals to humans, from one community to another.

    Globally, the alarm bells are deafening. The United Nations has pledged to cut AMR-related deaths by 10 percent before 2030. Health experts warn that if we fail, we could return to a world where a minor wound or sore throat becomes life-threatening. Imagine a future where childbirth, surgery, or even dental care becomes a gamble because the drugs we rely on no longer work.

    Nigeria is not standing idle. In October 2024, the Federal Government launched the Second National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (2024–2028) — an ambitious blueprint to tackle the crisis. It builds on earlier efforts and embraces what scientists call the “One Health” approach — recognising that human health, animal health, and the environment are deeply intertwined. The plan aims to strengthen surveillance, regulate drug use, upgrade laboratories, and raise awareness nationwide.

    And the world is watching. In June 2026, Nigeria will host the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR — the first on African soil. This is more than just a conference; it’s a statement that Nigeria is ready to lead the fight for Africa. The event will bring global health leaders, scientists, and policymakers to Abuja to discuss one of the greatest medical threats of our time — and Nigeria will be at the heart of it.

    Yet, let’s be clear: the real battle will not be won in conference halls but in homes, farms, clinics, and communities. Every Nigerian has a part to play. It starts with the simplest step — stop self-medicating. Not every fever is malaria, and not every infection needs antibiotics. Get tested. Follow your doctor’s prescription strictly. Never share leftover drugs or save them for “next time.” Each misuse makes bacteria stronger.

    Read Also: Okpebholo kicks as medical workers declare warning strike

    Preventing infections in the first place is just as vital. Wash your hands often. Eat well-cooked food. Stay vaccinated. Keep your surroundings clean. Every infection you prevent is one less reason to use antibiotics — and one less opportunity for resistance to grow. Farmers must also join the fight. Avoid using antibiotics to fatten animals or prevent disease unnecessarily. Seek veterinary guidance before treating livestock. Resistant bacteria from animals can easily reach humans through meat, water, and the environment.

    Healthcare professionals, too, must hold the line. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists need to resist patient pressure for antibiotics “just in case.” Hospitals must strengthen infection control to prevent resistant germs from spreading. Of course, individuals alone cannot fix this. Government must ensure laboratories are equipped to detect resistant infections and that laws against over-the-counter antibiotic sales are enforced. Investing in clean water, sanitation, and hygiene will help prevent the infections that make antibiotic use necessary in the first place.

    Make no mistake: antimicrobial resistance is a silent pandemic — one that creeps forward without headlines but threatens to erase a century of medical progress. If we continue as we are, we risk returning to an era where pneumonia, childbirth infections, and minor cuts kill again. So the next time you reach for antibiotics without a prescription, pause and think. Every careless dose we take weakens our defence for tomorrow.

  • NIMR deepens Nigeria’s health research frontier through world-class clinical trials

    NIMR deepens Nigeria’s health research frontier through world-class clinical trials

    In an age where scientific evidence defines how nations respond to disease, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) stands as one of Nigeria’s most consistent bastions of hope — turning questions into data, and data into lifesaving health solutions. Within its quiet laboratories in Yaba, Lagos, researchers are conducting some of the country’s most important medical experiments: randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that determine which drugs, vaccines, and interventions truly work for Nigerians.

    At its October media chat themed “Randomized Clinical Trials at NIMR: A Cornerstone of Translational Research,” Dr. David Ayoola Oladele, Deputy Director of Research and Consultant Public Health Physician at NIMR, offered an illuminating look into how RCTs have become central to the institute’s mission. With a strong academic pedigree — spanning the University of Ilorin, University of Lagos, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Saint Louis University in the U.S. — Dr. Oladele currently leads NIMR’s Centre for Clinical Trials, positioning the institute at the heart of Nigeria’s health research ecosystem. At its core, a randomised clinical trial involves assigning participants to different treatment groups by chance to determine the safety and effectiveness of a medical intervention. For NIMR, RCTs are not merely academic exercises but practical instruments for improving lives — generating data that inform national policies, treatment guidelines, and public health interventions.

    Over the last two decades, NIMR has coordinated and implemented several landmark trials in collaboration with both local and international partners. From antiretroviral drug studies for HIV treatment to microbicide trials aimed at preventing transmission, malaria drug efficacy tests, and even COVID-19 therapy evaluations, these studies have consistently placed Nigeria on the global research map. The institute also conducted the SAVVY Vaginal Gel trial for HIV prevention, and a pivotal trial assessing the efficacy of artesunate-mefloquine in malaria treatment across multiple regions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NIMR spearheaded a local clinical evaluation of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine phosphate for coronavirus treatment — a first-of-its-kind Nigerian-led randomized study that underscored the country’s growing research capacity.

    Beyond therapeutics, NIMR has also advanced diagnostic validation. Its comparative studies on malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and COVID-19 immunoassays helped improve diagnostic accuracy in clinical settings nationwide. More recently, the institute completed the SIFCOVAN vaccine trial, a randomized study evaluating fractional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigerian adults — a major contribution to vaccine optimization and equity. NIMR’s research portfolio also extends to public health interventions. Through the 4 Youth by Youth (4YBY) project, the institute used crowdsourcing to enhance HIV self-testing uptake among adolescents — proving how behavioural science can complement biomedical innovation. Such work, according to Dr. Oladele, “demonstrates that science must touch lives, not just publish papers.”

    Read Also: Okpebholo kicks as medical workers declare warning strike

    Today, NIMR is running an expanding portfolio of trials that include non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and chronic kidney disorders. Trials like the TASSH cluster randomized study are designed to test new approaches to blood pressure control in community settings — an important step as Nigeria faces rising NCD-related mortality.

    Supporting these initiatives is a network of advanced infrastructure that rivals global research institutions. The institute houses a purpose-built 10-bed clinical trial facility for phase I and II pharmacokinetic studies, an ISO 15189-certified Central Research Laboratory, and a state-of-the-art Biorepository and Data Centre equipped for real-time digital data capture. Oversight is provided by an accredited Institutional Review Board (IRB) under the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC), ensuring strict ethical compliance.

    With a pool of trained investigators and partnerships across Africa, NIMR is also a recognised training hub for clinical trialists, nurturing the next generation of researchers across West Africa. However, the journey has not been without hurdles. Dr. Oladele identified persistent challenges that slow down clinical research in Nigeria — low research literacy among the public, inadequate funding for investigator-led trials, prolonged ethical approval timelines, and weak linkages between academia, industry, and government. The dominance of donor-funded studies, he said, underscores the urgent need for sustainable local financing and stronger pharmaceutical industry engagement. “We need to move from dependency to self-determination in research,” he noted.

    Yet, despite these challenges, NIMR is charting a bold course for the future. The institute is aligning its research agenda with the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) — a federal government framework aimed at localizing health innovation. Through this alignment, NIMR intends to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for local drug and vaccine manufacturing, generate the clinical evidence needed for regulatory approvals, and enhance collaboration with regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC and NHREC.

    In addition, the newly established Centre for Clinical Trials at NIMR will harmonize multi-site RCTs across the country, providing coordination, oversight, and technical support to research teams nationwide. Plans are also underway to create regional research clusters linking universities, teaching hospitals, and private clinical research organisations (CROs) under NIMR’s umbrella. For Dr. Oladele, the vision is clear: to transform NIMR into a continental leader in translational medicine — where discoveries in the lab are rapidly translated into real-world health solutions. “Randomized clinical trials are not just about testing drugs,” he said. “They are about building systems of trust, ethics, and excellence that ensure Nigerians have access to safe and effective innovations.”

  • 2025 World Mental Health Day: Depression possesion(1)

    2025 World Mental Health Day: Depression possesion(1)

    About 50 million Nigerians are believed to have mental health challenges, going by latest records from this year’s World Mental Health Day celebration on October 10. This is a frightening number because it means about one in every 4 or 5 persons is down upstairs. This number is about 22.73 percent of Nigeria’s 220 million population estimate by the United Nations. The ratio of persons in depression to persons who appear to be in control of themselves is likely to rise, going by assumptions that hospital data may have left out more than 20 percent of challenged persons. Even more worrisome is the observation that healing can be a mirage, that some hospital patients relapse one or two times in one year that more cases of depression are pouring into the wards and that there are not enough doctors and other medical staff, psychologists and psychotherapists to cope with the brimming over. Hospital beds are not guaranteed even in serious emergencies. Boarded patients may be prematurely discharged to pave way for patients with doctor or management connections. The churches and other establishments are coming to the aid of society with rehabilitation centers, but behind their goals is the profit motive. In the rehabilitation centres of the churches, the aim is largely to win souls for Christ. But as we shall see in the unfolding text, their proselytization does not address the root cause of DEPRESSION or POSSESION, which is the need to feed the body with THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOODS AND DRINKS and to RECOMPOSE THE BLOOD for more vibrant energy or radiation that will provide the soul or spirit they are trying to enliven a bridge to the brain and intellect and, therefore, absolute, effective control of the body. I do not wish to speak about the living conditions of some rehabilitation centres. Feeding is poorer than in the prisons or correctional centres, as prisons are now called to give them a human face outdoor, even if they are dehumanising within. I have heard of rehabilitation centres where boarded patients over crowd in rooms, have no bed, matress, mats or cover cloth. In their complexion and physical look, they are like living corpses exhumed from dunghills, almost skeletal and identifiable only by their voices. Between last year and this year, there would appear to be no significant advancement in the frontiers of mental health medicine abroad and in Nigeria. Conceptions or what we know about mental health are still rigid. Psychiatric doctors still prescribe dangerous drugs with terrible side effects, some of which may be life threatening apart from causing cancer. Some of these drugs are fluoxetine, sertraline, citralopram, valporic acid, lithium, lamotrigine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, benzodiazepines, alprazolam, Clonazepam and buspirone .

    Space will not permit a discussion of how each one works, or of the negative side effects it introduces into the patient’s health matrix, and the new diseases these side effects impact on the body. There is hardly any patient who does not talk about them, who does not hate them, and who does not struggle to abandon them. That is why cases of relapse are many and, in some situations, followed up with suicide, in the erroneous belief that killing oneself takes away all problems one is fleeing from.

    At a psychiatric hospital in Lagos a few years ago, many of the patients in a male ward sought premature discharge en Bloc. Wise counsel suggested they be allowed to go, perhaps to prevent a violent escape.

    Some side effects of antidepressant drugs are excessive weight gain, slurry tongue, tremors, estrogen dominance in men which causes them to grow breasts, hormonal imbalances which subdue libido and may cause infertility, gastrointestinal issues, syndrome x (large abdominal bulge) which is a risk factor in hypertension, diabetes, liver and kidney disease, heart disease and heart failure and strokes, among others. Thyroid gland and kidney impact cannot be ruled out as well. That means health problems associated with thyroid gland disturbances may occur and, in the case of impacted kidneys, the bone marrow may become unable to produce enough red blood cells causing pernicious anaemia. So are metabolic changes, obesity and other amorphous shapes, drowsiness and sleepiness which can cause vegetable existence, dependence risk, withdrawal symptoms, and lack of competitive spirit, among others.

    Depression, not lunacy

    When many persons are told a neighbour is in hospital for mental health care, all they think about is lunacy. From the government, psychiatrists, parents, politicians, neighbourhood leaders right to the medical lay person in the street, and even persons in depression and the possesed themselves are perplexed about what is going on. Some commentators put it all down to drug or psychotic substance abuse. Others point accusing fingers at a mismanaged economy and poverty and the hurt or injuries they inflict on the mind, since not all cases are outcomes of drug or psychotic substance abuse. I have been aware of this since 1977 during my national youth service in Calabar when I paid my first visit ever to a psychiatric hospital. My NYSC primary assignment included visits to corps members in depression and boarded at the hospital. Since then, I have been close to some families who are distressed by one or more members held down by depression or possesion. Always, I found that, once the ailing persons stabilised on pharmaceutical psychiatry, they fared much better on nutrition psychiatry and psycho therapy. So close am I to many persons and families in these experiences that I will offend many of my acquaintances if I go beyond surface description of their events and experiences. Nevertheless, I feel obliged to mention, even if superficially, some experiences which always touch my heart.

    The first concerns a young woman who broke down after all her siblings had become married and left home. She would suddenly begin to scream at night that snakes were crawling all over her room. Her mother would rush in but will find no snake. She would spend the rest of the night peacefully in her mother’s room. This is telling a story which many psychiatrists and psychologists cannot easily decipher. I will explain it in subsequent parts of this column. Nevertheless, I will give a hint here. That hint is about something present in the mother which is not present in her and subdued something in the environment which was troubling her. Any inciteful Christian may easily pick up the story line from here. Did the legion of demons which assailed a man thought to be a lunatic not abandon him and flee into nearby swine when the Lord Jesus approached their victim? As we shall find out later in the course of this discussion, the intervening force was in the BLOOD COMPOSITION and in the radiation of the well composed blood of the Lord Jesus. It is also a secret of healing by touch during which power is transferred from the healthy person to the sick person as though from a functional and charging car battery jump starting a weak one. If we pay more attention to the scriptures, was the woman with the issue of blood not healed when she touched the garment of the Lord Jesus which was suffused with His Radiation? The scriptures also inform us that maidens stayed with aging kings to prolong their lives. Hematologists (blood doctors) and psychiatrists may discover in future that it was the radiation from the ANIMISTIC energy and blood of youths which suffused the bed chamber of the kings. Today, it has been proven that live plants give off RADIATIONS which may aid the recovery of sick persons. Does this have anything to do with the European culture in which bouquets of live flowers are given as get-well presents to sick persons? I cannot easily forget the scramble for rose flowers placed in altars during serious spiritual festivals. The rose flowers, on their own suffused with healing radiations are known to absorb alter RADIATIONS. When placed in a room, their capacity to emit RADIATIONS may subsist for more than one year. However, no radiation on earth surpasses the radiation of well composed blood. Therefore, composing and recomposing of blood through the diet and spiritual (not religious) activity is the duty of everyone during his or her life on earth.

    To continue this young woman’s story, she stabilised for a while. Later on, she was taken to a psychiatric home, perhaps to save the mother’s health from erosion. It was a counter productive effort. The psychiatric home was careless with security and its patient walked out… into the world till this day. She may have been upset by the drugs. The effects on her family cannot be described here.

    The second case is that of the first child of his parents who broke down because two of his younger siblings gained admission to higher institutions and he did not. His mother is an illustrious woman. Everywhere he went, she followed him in spirit. He, too, rejected anti depressant drugs. He even left Nigeria for a neighbouring African country to be free of her and his siblings. About three countries away, he was attacked by robbers who abandoned him in a state of coma. Good Samaritans took him to a Catholic hospital where humane doctors and nurses took his case over without financial reward. When he came round and the doctors learned he was a Nigerian, they raised money for him to return home. His mother almost jumped out of her skin one morning when she went to answer a knock on the door and stood face to face before her son who had been missing for months. He looked unkept from head to toe. She thought he had returned to kill her. The next move of the young man was shocking to her. He went down on all fours in prostration, appealing for forgiveness. In the dysperception of depression which presents white as black to the sufferer, he had seen his mother as a witch who preferred his siblings to him. Experience and holistic medical care which involved not only pharmaceuticals but love of the spirit revived him. We would read later in the other part of this column how doctors and psychologists can use nutrition, even water, love and knowledge of the spirit, to recompose the blood and heal depression and possesion without resort to killing anti depressants.

    Read Also: ‘People with mental health challenges need empathy, not stigmatization’

    If, again, I may give a hint here, the human body is made up of about 70 to 75 percent water and the blood almost 90 percent water. Dr. Samora Emoto of Japan has shown that, in most samples of water, the structural arrangement of water molecules is unnatural, and the unnaturalness can be impacted on them by the spoken and written human word and by music. He also showed that certain spoken words and written words beautifully rearranged the ugly structures and forms of denatured water samples. This is a hint which psychiatrists and clinical psychologists and nutritionists may wish to explore by incorporating into their practice Dr Emoto’s work which is on the internet, if, seriously, they wish to help persons in depression and POSSESED persons and are not merely interested in festering the nests of big pharmacy. Nutritionists, too, can explore on the internet the work of Semyor Kirlian who discovered a way to measure how much living power exists in the food we eat in the course of its journey from the farm to our dining table. Since the food will end up in the blood and since how vigorous or weak the blood is will determine if a person will slide into depression or not, it is important to pay serious attention to nutrition when we attempt to heal depression and possesion cases. However, this is not the case, going by the standards of Semyor Kirlian, in our psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation centres. The tendency is to believe in, and to rely largely on DRUGS AND INJECTIONS and not on…THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOOD AND DRINKS and herbs as was recommended to humanity in the 1920s and 1930s. I will speak elaborately on this in the second part of this article.

    The reunion of mother and son mentioned in this second case has been a beautiful story ever since…he has married and is now a proud father of three children. His mother offers counselling services to parents who are grappling with the traumas of children in depression.

    The third case got me to write this column. As I write, I have just made a mother in her seventies to visit her son who is about half her age. His challenges began with hallucination about 16 years ago in junior secondary school. This could very well have been an astral or ethereal experience. Unfortunately, no one around him knew about such things. I suspected either experience because everyone I spoke with about him, including the subject himself, ruled out any case of substance abuse, and because, at 24, I had my first OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE (OBE) which no one could explain to me until the age of 27, three years later. Only psychiatrists and other brain doctors such as Dr. Abayomi Aiyesimoju, a neurologist, who are not intellectual in their practice of mental health medicine will understand and appreciate what I am saying. By “intellectual,” I do not necessarily mean “academic” or “erudition”. Intellectual here means delimiting one’s receptive capacity to only what the human brain can fathom, forgetting that the brain is limited to earthly conceptions of time and space, being of dust itself and cannot perceive existence and life beyond the earthly realm. The young man I am discussing had been looking up to me as a father for a life-line in about 10 years of our acquaintanceship since his mother and siblings connected us. They and his doctors have not allowed him go off these debilitating drugs for 16 years. Then, he was a university student. He is very versatile today in nutrition psychiatry. My intervention this week was to get his family to let him try nutrition for his condition as I noticed that anything short of this may drive him around the bend. Persons in depression do not discuss suicide for nothing.

    The third case in reference is assailed by many of the side effects of psychiatric drugs mentioned above. However, in Europe and America from where these drugs were introduced to Nigeria, patients have the right to reject and discontinue anti depressant treatment. Health care providers respect their autonomy in medical decision making. Doctors may be penalised for negligence or malpractice if they fail to properly inform patients about potential risks and side effects.

    As stated above, many persons reduce a variety of mental health questions to lunacy and stigmatise the challenged persons as such. For the avoidance of doubt, the following, according to an enlightened opinion on this subject is a number of challenges that may fit into the description of mental health:

    “DEPRESSION (Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.),

    ANXIETY (Excessive worry, fear, or anxiety that interferes with daily life.:)

    INSOMNIA(Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep.)

    MEMORY LOSS ( Difficulty remembering recent events or learning new information) (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, dementia).

    ANGER ISSUES: (Difficulty managing anger, leading to conflicts or aggressive behavior.)

    FEAR OR PHOBIA ( Excessive or irrational fear of specific objects, situations, or activities.)

    AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ASD: (Neurodevelopmental disorder affecting social interaction, communication, and behaviour.)

    BIPOLAR DISORDER: (Mood swings ranging from manic highs to depressive lows.)

    POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD): (Symptoms following a traumatic event, such as flashbacks, anxiety, or avoidance).

    OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (Recurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours) (compulsions).

    ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD): (Difficulty with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity).

    SCHIZOPHRENIA (Disrupted thought processes, perceptions, and emotions).

    EATING DISORDERS: (Abnormal eating patterns, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder).

    SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (Dependence on or addiction to substances like drugs or alcohol.)

    PANIC DISORDER: (Recurring panic attacks, which are intense episodes of fear or discomfort.)

    SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER ( Fear or anxiety in social situations).

    BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER (Difficulty regulating emotions, leading to unstable relationships and impulsive behaviour.)

    TRAUMA: (Emotional or psychological distress following a traumatic event.)

    DEMENTIA: (Cognitive decline affecting memory, thinking, and daily life.)

    CHRONIC STRESS: (Ongoing stress that can impact mental and physical health.)

    Memory loss can be a symptom of various conditions, including dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Anger may arise from anxiety, depression, or trauma. Autism, a neurological disorder inhibits communication by walking in the OVERSELF”.

    How many of us, from the list above, do not have a mental health challenge or the other? Is it the man or woman who cannot easily sleep or sustain deep sleep to stage 4 or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep?

    Is it the man or woman who easily forgets where he or she kept the house or car key five minutes earlier?

    Is it the man or woman who hates to eat, who vomits on eating? Is it the man or woman who cannot control his temper and easily gets angry? Is it the man or woman who is hyperactive and, in addition, suffers from attention deficit to the point that he or she has become what is termed a scatterbrain? Is it the man or woman who is afraid of a crowd or cannot easily breathe in a bus or small enclosures such as a toilet room? The list is unending.

  • FG disburses N32.9 billion to PHCs

    FG disburses N32.9 billion to PHCs

    The Federal Government has released ₦32.9 billion to States and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), marking the third disbursement this year. 

    The funds, approved by the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) and guided by the newly launched BHCPF 2.0 Guidelines, are aimed at improving service delivery, supporting health workers, and expanding access to essential healthcare nationwide.

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday at the 3rd Quarter MOC Meeting in Abuja, where he asserted that the new guidelines represent a major milestone in the administration’s health reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the use of public health funds.

    Pate also disclosed that a Joint Task Force, working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has been activated to monitor and ensure proper utilization of the funds at the community level. 

    Highlighting Nigeria’s growing health coverage, the Minister revealed that over 21 million Nigerians are now enrolled in health insurance schemes. 

    Through the BHCPF, more than 11,000 pregnant women have received emergency medical treatment, 15,000 women accessed obstetric care, and 500,000 pregnant women benefited from maternal health coverage, he said.

    He added that primary healthcare centres across the country recorded more than 80 million visits in the first half of 2025, representing a fourfold increase compared to 2023, stressing that the surge reflects rising public confidence in government health services.

    To further track progress, the Minister announced plans for a Mini Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2026 to provide up-to-date data on maternal and child health outcomes. 

    Preliminary findings, he said, already show a 12 percent reduction in maternal mortality compared to 2023, an encouraging sign that recent reforms are yielding measurable results.

    The MOC also approved major governance and accountability reforms, including the launch of a fully digital platform for the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) within two weeks to improve emergency response and reporting. 

    States are to submit verified beneficiary data with National Identification Numbers by December 2025, while new public interest and conflict of interest protocols will strengthen transparency. 

    The Ministry also directed State Social Health Insurance Agencies to track claims processing, institutionalized Data Quality Assessments to ensure report accuracy, and reaffirmed its commitment to stronger health systems and universal health coverage through sustained reforms.

    Prof. Pate also highlighted achievements in the ongoing integrated immunization campaign, targeting 106 million children aged 0 to 14 years against measles, rubella, polio, and neglected tropical diseases. 

    The campaign, he said, has already achieved over 92 percent uptake in northern states, surpassing initial expectations.

  • FG moves to curb rising colorectal cancer cases, launches first continental innovative treatment study

    FG moves to curb rising colorectal cancer cases, launches first continental innovative treatment study

    Alarmed by the growing burden of colorectal cancer in Nigeria, the Federal Government has launched a groundbreaking initiative to improve access to advanced cancer treatment and reduce preventable deaths. 

    The move follows data showing that colorectal cancer has tripled in incidence over the past four decades, now ranking as the second most common cancer in men and fourth overall in the country, causing nearly 5,900 deaths annually.

    Speaking at the formal launch of the Innovative Cancer Medicines (ICM) Demonstration Project on Tuesday at the National Hospital, Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, said that the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to making lifesaving innovations available to Nigerians, regardless of their income or location.

    “The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, is determined to revolutionize cancer prevention, control, and overall management in Nigeria. 

    “Today’s milestone represents hope that patients in low- and middle-income countries will no longer have to wait decades to benefit from the same innovations available elsewhere,” Salako declared.

    The project, implemented in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Roche, will test Nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer. 

    Nigeria’s enrollment of its first patient marks a historic moment in the country’s oncology research landscape.

    According to Salako, the project is not just a demonstration but proof that innovative cancer care can be delivered safely, sustainably, and locally, while generating vital data on patient experiences, system readiness, and infrastructure needs to guide nationwide expansion of advanced cancer care.

    The Minister said the effort aligns with the National Cancer Control Plan and the Renewed Hope Health Agenda, which prioritize early detection, local research, affordable diagnostics, and access to innovative treatment. 

    He disclosed that six regional cancer centres of excellence have been built, with three already commissioned, and that the 2025 national budget contains the highest-ever allocation for cancer infrastructure.

    Beyond treatment, he said the government is also focusing on prevention through lifestyle modification campaigns, immunization against vaccine-preventable cancers, and nationwide screening.

    Salako urged regulators to ensure timely support for research without creating unnecessary barriers and commended the National Hospital Abuja and the project partners for their commitment.

    Prof. Abubakar Bello, Principal Investigator of the ICM Study, said the project marks a new phase in Nigeria’s oncology landscape, designed to bridge gaps in access to advanced cancer care while generating local evidence on how African patients respond to immunotherapy.

    He explained that the initiative is not an experiment with an untested drug, noting, “Nivolumab is already saving lives globally, and we are demonstrating that Nigerian patients can also benefit safely and effectively.”

    Prof. Bello said the project, conceived in 2019 by a consortium of global partners, was initially planned for four African countries but is now being implemented solely in Nigeria after years of regulatory work. 

    He added that Nigeria now has the capacity for local microsatellite instability (MSI) testing following Roche’s installation of advanced laboratory equipment.

    According to him, preliminary findings show that 43 percent of Nigerian colorectal cancer patients exhibit MSI-high markers, making them more responsive to immunotherapy.

    He noted that each treatment cycle of nivolumab costs about ₦9.5 million, but through the partnership, 30 patients will receive free diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring for 18 months. 

    He added that the donated medicines and diagnostics, valued at over ₦7 billion, represent one of the largest medical donations in Nigeria’s cancer care history.

    Prof. Bello clarified that the ICM project “is not a clinical trial but a demonstration study designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and patient outcomes within Nigeria’s health system.”

    Dr. Kevin Marks of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy described it as proof of a global commitment to equitable healthcare, saying, “Together, we can move closer to a world where all cancers are curable for all people”.

    Ms. Natania Candelario of Bristol Myers Squibb said the ICM project shows Nigeria’s readiness to deliver advanced therapies such as immunotherapy when supported with the right resources. 

    “It highlights the country’s capacity for world-class cancer care,” she said.

    Dr. Funke Fashawe of CHAI described the launch as the result of five years of work to make immunotherapy available to Nigerians, “We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Health to ensure safe and effective administration of these treatments,” she said.

    The study’s principal investigator, Prof. Abubakar Bello, said the project marks a new era in Nigerian oncology, designed to bridge the gap in access to advanced cancer treatment while generating real-world evidence on how African patients respond to immunotherapy.

    “This is not an experiment with an untested drug. Nivolumab is already saving lives globally. We are showing that our patients can also benefit safely and effectively,” he said 

    Originally conceived in 2019 by a consortium of global partners, he noted that the project was initially planned for four African countries but is now solely implemented in Nigeria after years of regulatory work. 

    The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Prof. Raji Mahmud, represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Isiaka Lawal, said, “This study comes as we strengthen specialties such as urology, neurosciences, and organ transplantation”

  • Health summit to Government: Act now to stop Nigerians from dying young

    Health summit to Government: Act now to stop Nigerians from dying young

    Nigeria must move beyond endless policy meetings and take urgent, life-saving actions to prevent premature deaths and strengthen its fragile health system, experts have warned.

    At the Gatefield Health Summit 2025 in Abuja on Wednesday, health advocates, policymakers, and researchers urged the government to subsidize essential drugs, expand health insurance, and incentivize local pharmaceutical production. 

    They warned that Nigeria’s goal of building a resilient health system will remain elusive as long as millions of people living with diabetes and other chronic diseases cannot access or afford treatment.

    Gatefield Chief Executive Officer, Adewumi Emoruwa, said Nigeria’s declining life expectancy, now at just 54 years, reflects deep structural weaknesses in the health sector. 

    “At 27, the average Nigerian is already halfway through life. In Europe, that midpoint comes around 43, while in parts of Asia, people live almost twice as long. 

    “We are dying young not because we are African, but because our health systems are fragile and underfunded,” he said.

    He warned that the era of donor-driven health funding was fading, urging Nigeria to strengthen domestic responses to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. 

    “The most important question is, what do we need to do differently to make ourselves live longer?” he asked.

    Emoruwa identified five key drivers of early deaths in Nigeria that demand urgent and sustained resilience, listing poor food quality, antimicrobial resistance, underfunding, recurrent outbreaks, and maternal mortality, if the nation’s life expectancy is to improve.

    He said weak regulation had allowed the market to be flooded with sugar- and salt-laden foods, noting, “We are feeding our children diabetes. A Swiss lab found six grams of sugar in Nigerian baby cereal, while the same product in Europe had none.”

    He also raised concern over the growing ineffectiveness of medicines due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country, attributing it to poor governance and widespread misuse of antibiotics.

    Noting that medicines in Nigeria require resilience, he warned that AMR could kill up to 10 million Africans by 2050. 

    On health financing, Emoruwa noted that Nigeria spends just five dollars per citizen annually, compared to Kenya’s sixty-six and Europe’s four thousand five hundred. 

    “When a country spends so little on health, people die at 54, an age when they should still be supporting children in school, not being buried,” he said.

    On maternal health, he cited reports of the death of 75,000 women during childbirth in 2023, likening it to wiping out the population of Monaco every year. 

    He criticized government cuts to family planning budgets by 97 percent, calling it tragic. 

    Emoruwa also warned against rising distrust in science, saying many Nigerians now turn to social media influencers instead of doctors.

    While acknowledging some policy steps like sodium reduction and the sugar-sweetened beverages tax, he lamented slow implementation. 

    “Government knows what to do, but what’s missing is urgency. People’s lives must matter more than profit. If we fix our food systems and make care affordable, Nigerians can live twenty more years beyond the current life expectancy,” the Gatefield Chief said

    In her virtual presentation, Dr Niti Pall, President-elect of the International Diabetes Federation, said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of people with diabetes. 

    “If we want true health resilience, we must prioritize chronic diseases,” she said, urging investment in primary care, diagnostics, and access to affordable insulin.

    The Federation called on governments to strengthen financing systems, warning that the cost of inaction today leads to higher hospital costs and mortality tomorrow.

    Dr Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director of the Society for Family Health, represented by Dr. Anthony Nwala, the Assistant Chief Program Delivery Officer at the organization, said donor funding was declining, stressing the need for innovation and sustainability. 

    “Through initiatives like SFH Access, affordable medicines for hypertension and diabetes are now available for as low as one dollar per month,” he said.

    Gatefield Advocacy Lead, Shirley Ewang, recalled how her organization pushed for the sugar tax in 2021 to reduce sugar consumption and fund diabetes care. 

    However, she lamented that inflation and industry resistance have weakened its impact, leaving many unable to afford insulin.

    Kafayat Alawode, Program Director at DGI Consult, while presenting a Gatefield-funded study, said inflation, rising from 11 percent in 2018 to 34 percent in 2024, had sharply increased medical and pharmaceutical costs. 

    “Diabetes, once seen as a disease of affluence, is now growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria,” she noted.

    A new study revealed that between 2012 and 2024, insulin and Lipophage prices rose by more than 200 percent, pushing millions into financial distress. 

    Many patients now spend over 10 percent of their income on diabetes care, which the World Health Organization classifies as catastrophic health expenditure.

    According to Alawode, some patients skip doses or rely on social media fundraising to survive. “If the rich are crying, imagine what the poor are doing—they cry the most,” she said.

    The health advocates agreed that unless Nigeria strengthens local drug manufacturing, expands insurance coverage, and prioritizes prevention, millions will continue to die young. The summit continues on Thursday. 

  • NGO calls for sustainability of emergency operation centers in PHCs

    NGO calls for sustainability of emergency operation centers in PHCs

    A non-governmental organisation, eHealth Africa (eHA) has called for sustainability of emergency operation centers, renewable energy integration and digital innovation in primary health care.

    Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz said this during the International Conference on Primary Health Care (ICPHC 2025) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The conference which was attended by global leaders was aimed at driving conversations on digital transformation, public health infrastructure sustainability, renewable energy for better healthcare delivery and health system resilience across Africa.

    Themed “Advancing Primary Health Care in the 21st Century: Putting People First,” the event brought together thought leaders and innovators committed to strengthening primary health care and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    Speaking on eHealth Africa’s participation, Fawaz, noted that the theme of this year’s ICPHC aligned with the organisation’s mission of building human-centered solutions to advance primary healthcare in underserved communities.

    In a statement signed by the Communications Manager, eHealth Africa, Favour Oriaku, Fawaz said: “At eHealth Africa, we believe technology and data should serve people.

    “This is the rationale behind the interventions like establishment of emergency operation centers, renewable energy for primary healthcare, climate resilient digital solutions and smart tools for vaccination campaigns, which were all presented to partners at the ICPHC.”

    Highlighting the importance of sustainability and local ownership especially for the public health emergency operation centers across Africa, Kazeem Balogun, Deputy Director, Supply Chain Management for eHealth Africa said: “We must see Emergency Operation Centers not just as polio infrastructure, but as integrated public health command centers.

    “Our goal is to build systems governments can sustain not donor-driven facilities, but national assets embedded within primary health care structures.”

    Sharing the overview of the establishment of Emergency Operation Centers that kicked off from Nigeria to over 24 African countries, Anthony Edozieuno, Program Manager for Public Health Emergency Management at eHealth Africa said, what began in Nigeria has evolved into a multi-country model that strengthens emergency coordination across Africa.

    This according to him is a true testament to shared learning and partnership.

    Temitayo Tella-Lah, Program Manager Climate Adaptation in Health, Food Security and Nutrition showcased eHealth Africa’s Climate Health Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CHAT); a digital platform helping governments, stakeholders and primary healthcare facilities to assess vulnerabilities to climate change.

    Tella-Lah said: “CHAT helps decision-makers move from awareness to action. It enables countries to identify risks, design climate-resilient health interventions, and protect communities before crises occur.

    “Developed to strengthen evidence-based climate adaptation planning at the national and subnational level, CHAT represents a practical step toward integrating climate intelligence into health system decision-making and advancing climate-resilient primary healthcare delivery.”

    Similarly, Abubakar Shehu, Program Manager for Disease Prevention and Monitoring, showcased eHealth Africa’s PlanFeld solution; a digital microplanning solution transforming vaccination logistics.

    “With Planfeld, we’ve cut microplanning time from five days to just ten minutes.

    “It ensures equitable workload distribution, reduces missed settlements, and helps governments make faster, smarter vaccination decisions,” Shehu stated.

    Also, Toju Ogele, Project Manager at eHealth Africa called for renewable energy scale-up in primary health care facilities.

    According to Ogele, eHealth Africa with the support from GAVI/UNICEF has solarised over 100 Primary Healthcare facilities leading to a surge in patients accessing the healthcare facilities.

    Ogele said: “In just 1 PHC, we have seen a surge in patients from 1,300 patients to over 3,000 patients accessing the Health facilities while night deliveries are no longer a problem.

    “Transitioning to renewable energy has no doubt also ensured vaccines stay potent, surgeries stay safe, and communities stay healthy.”

  • Gbajabiamila, Pate call for stronger collaboration for Nigerian health security

    Gbajabiamila, Pate call for stronger collaboration for Nigerian health security

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has emphasized that collective responsibility remains vital to building a healthier and safer Nigeria. He urged citizens to place greater focus on prevention and preparedness as central pillars for strengthening the nation’s public health systems.

    This is as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, emphasized that investing in infection control, hygiene, and antimicrobial resistance not only saves countless lives but also strengthens the nation’s health system.

    Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the 10th anniversary of the DRASA Health Trust, Gbajabiamila commended the organization for a decade of consistent efforts in infection prevention, outbreak response, and health education, describing its work as crucial to Nigeria’s health security and sustainable development.

    DRASA Health Trust was established in memory of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who lost her life after bravely containing Nigeria’s first Ebola case in July 2014. 

    When Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos showing symptoms of the virus, Dr. Adadevoh recognized the threat, enforced quarantine measures, and prevented a potential nationwide outbreak sacrificing her own life in the process.

    The Chief of Staff noted that no government can tackle public health challenges in isolation, calling on citizens, communities, and civil society groups to work together to strengthen health systems across the country. 

    “Government can only do so much. In Nigeria or anywhere else, true progress requires collective effort. Governance is about all of us pulling together,” he said.

    On this, Gbajabiamila described DRASA Health Trust as a model of proactive health engagement, stressing that public health must be viewed as a shared responsibility among government institutions and the wider community.

    “This is what we need, institutions that sensitise people and promote the principle that prevention is better than cure. We must act before problems arise, not after damage is done.

    “Health is wealth, and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. DRASA embodies preparedness, prevention, and collective responsibility. That’s exactly the mindset Nigeria needs,” he added.

    Gbajabiamila also paid tribute to the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, whose courage during the 2014 Ebola outbreak saved millions of lives. “Imagine what might have happened if she hadn’t put others before herself. Her selflessness should inspire us all to act with courage and think beyond our personal interests,” he said.

    On his part, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, urged Nigerians to learn from the sacrifice of the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh by investing more deliberately in disease prevention and health security.

    Pate described Dr. Adadevoh’s courage, which helped avert a catastrophic Ebola outbreak in 2014, as a timeless reminder of how individual responsibility can safeguard an entire nation.

    Represented by Dr. Nse Akpan, the Director of Port Health Services at the Ministry commended DRASA for transforming personal tragedy into a national movement for prevention and resilience, noting its achievements in training over 15,700 health workers, mobilizing nearly 100,000 Health Champions, and supporting key health policies.

    “Every naira invested in infection control, hygiene, and antimicrobial resistance saves countless lives and strengthens our health system,” he said.

    Pate urged the government, private sector, and communities to “Walk with DRASA” into its next decade by supporting its plan to train 50,000 more health workers and expand its grassroots network.

    “As we honour Dr. Adadevoh’s heroism, we must all accept that health security is everyone’s business,” he added.

    Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of DRASA Health Trust, Dr. Niniola Williams, reflected on the organization’s journey since its founding in 2015, describing it as “born out of tragedy but built on purpose.” 

    She recalled the moment that inspired DRASA’s creation: “My aunt said, ‘I think I have a patient with Ebola. Don’t tell anyone.’ That decision cost her life but saved millions.”

    Dr. Williams said what began as a memorial initiative has evolved into a national institution dedicated to disease prevention and infection control. 

    “Over the past decade, DRASA has trained thousands of frontline health workers, equipped hospitals and border posts with infection control skills, and contributed to 28 national and sub-national health policies,” noted.

    She highlighted stories that reflect the organization’s impact, a young Health Champion teaching disease prevention in her church, a nurse transforming her hospital practice after DRASA’s training, and rapid nationwide training during COVID-19. 

    “Ten years on, we have grown from a memorial tribute into a national institution shaping how Nigeria prevents disease and protects health,” she said.

    However, Dr. Williams said DRASA’s next decade will focus on building resilient clinics, reliable protocols, and empowered communities through the establishment of the DRASA Academy, a hub for training 50,000 additional health workers and advancing infection prevention and control practices nationwide.

    She also announced plans to integrate antimicrobial resistance education into schools, expand youth leadership in health governance, and set up Centres of Excellence in all six geopolitical zones. 

    “We are formalizing youth participation so that those who will inherit this system help design it now,” she said.

    As part of the anniversary celebration, DRASA launched its Endowment Fund and premiered a documentary chronicling its decade-long journey. 

    Dr. Williams urged stakeholders to increase investment in prevention, warning that underfunding could leave Nigeria vulnerable to preventable diseases and misinformation. 

    “A Nigeria without DRASA’s support is a Nigeria more vulnerable to disease, panic, and avoidable economic loss,” she cautioned.

  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commends Borno on Measles/Rubella campaign compliance

    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commends Borno on Measles/Rubella campaign compliance

    The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has commended the Borno State Government on the high level of compliance recorded during the ongoing Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign.

    Senior Program Manager with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Shina Aladeshawe, made the commendation during a visit to some vaccination centres in Maiduguri.

    According to Aladeshawe, the integrated approach adopted by the State Government in running the campaign has proven to be efficient and cost-effective.

    “I think the idea to run an integrated campaign is an excellent one. Integration allows for efficiency and maximizes resources,” he said.

    The foundation representative also commended the State Government, led by Governor Babagana Zulum and his wife, for their commitment to improving the health of citizens, particularly children.

    Aladeshawe noted that while there were some gaps in data management and vaccine administration, these issues were being addressed by supervisors.

    He expressed joy at seeing mothers and children accessing various vaccines, including measles, rubella, and polio, in the same location.

    “The joy on the faces of the people doing this work, the joy on the mothers’ faces, despite some challenges, is a testament to the success of this campaign,” he said.

    The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation representative urged parents to take advantage of the free vaccines, emphasizing that they are safe and effective.

    “Vaccines are the cheapest, safest, and for the most part, free for everybody. It’s exciting when people are coming with their kids, knowing that they’re protecting the population and the community against some of these killer diseases,” he said.

    Aladeshawe commended the media for their role in disseminating information about the campaign and thanked the state government, Governor Zulum, and his wife, as well as all partners and stakeholders, for making the campaign a success.