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Category: Health

  • June 12 honours… knocks on Bayo Onanuga & Co, Alex Ibru (1)

    June 12 honours… knocks on Bayo Onanuga & Co, Alex Ibru (1)

    When an elephant dies, all kinds of the butcher’s knife emerge. It takes a lion heart to face the long knives in battle and to survive them. How many persons can easily overcome the tide when, individually, they cook for their country and all citizens respond to the gesture, each one with his or her own meal deposited at one’s door-step. You would discover that, however wise and meticulous you thought you were, there is no way your ways and means would be pleasing and acceptable to every-one. It was, therefore, not surprising to person like me that pathological critics of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saw no value in many of the persons he gave Nigeria’s National Honours on Democracy Day JUNE 12,  2025. Even journalists, especially on always critical Lagos Radio stations such as Voice of The People (VOP) , Mainland Radio and Nigeria INFO rejected the honours for fellow Journalists Bayo Onanuga, Owei Lakenfa and Kayode Komolafe. If you didn’t know their professional trajectory well enough, they all came from The Guardian newspaper in its hey days as the Flagship of the Nigerian Press. So were two others on the Honour list…Dr. Olatunji Dare and Dr Edwin Madunagu,both members of The Guardian Editorial Board. Dr Dare succeeded Dr Stanley Macebuh as Chairman of the Editorial Board in addition to his lower line Editor title of Editorial Page Editor. I wondered why Sully Abu, also a radical member of the Editorial Board, was not ranked with them, and Mr Alex Ibru, Chairman of the Guardian and its Publisher, was in the same train with strange bedfellows Dr Dare and Dr Madunagu. I will explain this in the second article on this subject. Now, I will state that, after Gen. Sanni Abacha shut the Guardian for one year, and Mr Alex Ibru got some editors to agree to follow him to Abuja to apologise to Gen. Abacha for whatever wrongs the newspaper may have done him, Dr Dare, Dr Madunagu and Sully Abu immediately re-signed their appointments. They couldn’t attened a meeting to apologise to a despotic murderer for their criticisms of his savagery. Mr Alex Ibru accused Yoruba Editors at The Guardian of collaboration with NADECO, the pro-democracy resistance group, to fight Abacha in whose government he was a Minister and, in turn, make Abacha threaten financial fortune of Ibru family laboriously built up. Their exit left Managing Director Lade Bonuola and his Deputy, Femi Kusa, Director of Publication/Editor-in-Chief, to clear up the mess Mr Alex Ibru had swirled up against Yoruba people and their own persons as prodical professionals and business destroyers. Mr Alex Ibru summoned a Board meeting to press Lade Bonuola and Femi Kusa to agree to an apology. Lade Bonuola rejected the suggestion. Mr Alex Ibru asked him to resign his appointment. Lade Bonuola did. A divide-and- rule Maverick, Mr Alex Ibru appointed Femi Kusa Managing Director in succession to Lade Bonuola. Femi Kusa rejected the appointment outright, and tendered his resignation from the Board and the Company. Emotion run riot. I will explain later how peace was restored by a compromise which rejected apology to Abacha,and how Mr Alex Ibru went behinde the line to smuggle into the meeting Oba- Festus Adesanoye, then Osemawe of Ondo, to apologise to Abacha for whatever sins the draconian General thought the Guardian committed against him.

    Accordingly, some commentators rejected the presence of Mr Alex Ibru on the Honours List. I, too, shrugged my shoulders, although I seemed to agree half -way through the arguments. I align myself with the President that Bayo Onanuga, Owei Lakenfa and Kayode  Komolafe deserved the honours conferred on them. I agree with critics who say many people who deserve the honours are still left out. This is understandable and must have been strategic. The annulment of Chief Moshood Kasimawo Abiola’s election was originally resisted by all regions of Nigeria. In the twinkle of an eye, the Northern Region backed out. Even Chief Abiola’s running-mate, Alhaji Babangana Kingibe, withdrew from their electoral ticket. Soon after, the Eastern Region followed the Northern Region, abandoning the Western Region with the annulment albatross. Thus, the Yorubas of the Western Region were left alone in the struggle for Democracy. If President Tinubu loaded the Democracy Honours List with everyone who deserved to be on it, there would be far too many Yorubas on it that he would be accused of Yorubalising the victory of democracy over Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and his cohorts.

    Bayo Onanuga, Owei Lakenfa and Kayode Komolafe

    I have two reasons for saying they deserved the honour.

    1. At different times in the sojourn of these gentlemen in the newsroom of the Guardian newspaper, I was either their Editor or Editor-in-Chief. I knew them all to be rebels against feudalism and untidiness in human affairs. By rebels, I mean they were all FIGHTERS AGAINST DARKNESS. My definition of darkness here does not encompass the darkness which, in spiritual parlance,is Lucifer,but limited to His minions, those men and women who are His servants on earth and elsewhere in the universe, who would not allow the flourish of human virtues and nobility. In every wa, they bring sufferance. Only human souls who instinctively or intuitively devote themselves to ENNOBLE humanity can selflessly confront them and their master. This is one of the battles of journalism.

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    I recuited these gentlemen into the Guardian newsroom, which served as preparatory ground for their “rebel” work later in life, including the battles against Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Sanni Abacha, which brought about Jun 12 as Democracy Day. As Secretary-General of the Nigerian Guild of Editors( NGE), I would be proud of Bayo Onanuga, after he left the Guardian, when he got wind of how I resisted Military President Babangida and he wanted to scream the encounter to the end of the earth. Only a rebel against what had become pathological norm in his profession would dare to confront a powerful General who had taught he could make anything to happen in Nigeria. It took a great deal of effort to persuade Bayo Onanuga to let go …that they would be another day, another opportunity, to challenge incongruence in authority.

    It was always difficult to find a smile on the face of Bayo Onanuga. What was there to smile about in the rotteness every where?,he always seemed to be asking. He was a Sub- Editor, and impacted his nature on his work. He was always restless, like Duro Onabule, his relation , who was Editor of Chief M.K.O Abiola’s National Concord newspaper before his boss “donated” him as Chief Press Secretary to his supposed friend, military President Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida. An editor’s job is an onerous one. The sanity and well being of his fellow country men and women, the young and the old, the healthy and infirm, lie squarely on his or her shoulders. So does the well-being of the staff of the company who may number 500, fewer or more. Add these to the investment which , these days, may run into billions of Naira. The editor must let the rebels be, without giving them free reign. For “rebel”journalists, it is “fight, fight and fight”all the way. A good editor will moderate the rebel Journalist without necessary killing his or her fighting spirit. I believe Bayo Onanuga enjoyed work with me in this regard.

    Owei Lakenfa was another kettle of fish, jovial, smiling, laughing ,bouncing and restless, but no less “dangerous” than Bayo Onanuga when he came to fighting anachronism and social dung hills., Owei Lakenfa was a spirit, soul and body a Labour Union warrior in the newsroom. To moderate him,I set up a counterpart reporting system for the other side of the coin …management.An editor who fails to do this may become unbalanced…, lose the market and the budget, become unable to pay salaries and he or she may be fired. Yet, he or she need the Owei Lakenfa’s of this world to earn respect from all players in the economy. Why he as not become President of the Nigerian Labour Congress( NLC) I do not know. I wasn’t surprised that he gave his energy to the June 12  Strugglewhen the Nigerian Labour Congress no longer contained it. The Guardian couldn’t contain it either and, so, he had to leave. That, I believe,was when the newspaper,good on the outside, was inadequate in -house in terms of staff welfare. The staff did not know of the efforts of the Executive Directors to, literally speaking, squeeze water out of stone from the proprietors that would improve their conditions of service. The Executive Directors could not be blamed for the seeming slowliness of the proprietors in this regard. Many of us were pure journalists or advertisement persons. Even our first Executive Editor and later Managing Director, Dr Stanley Macebuh, was an academic and writer, with no experience in business management. Our challenge when the Guardian was on the drawing board was how to make it the best written newspaper in English speaking Africa, if not on earth. We had sleepless nights on how to beat the Daily Times from where most of us came, The Punch and the National Concord. We employed reporters who had never worked on a newspaper. Most of them wrote trash. Alone, Oyinlade Bonuola, the Associate Editor, and I, Femi Kusa,then the Assistant Editor, re-wrote for the first year of the newspaper all the news stories, apart from surpervising the features and other pages. We resumed work at about 10 a.m and closed at about 3a.m, giving 17 hours of our day to office work. There was no time to think of anything else. I learned that we ran on back loans guaranteed by Mr Alex Ibru.Our admin and personnel departments were to have sorted out the conditions of service. They did not. The Labour Union, driven by Owei Lakenfa and Kayode Komolafe( a.k.a KK) could not stomach it. They had a good case in which the executive directors believed. However, where do Executive Directors openly align with junior staff to directly wage war on Proprietors? Nevertheless, we adopted their grievances for a working paper to hammer out something with the proprietors. A turning point came about 1988, five years after the debut of the newspaper, when, according to a trading report, the company was said to have lost about seven million naira. The proprietors ordered salaries cut by about 25 per cent across the board. Owei Lakenfa and his group could not stomach this on top of the high demands on their time, energy and talents …their lives. The proprietors got all the departments to debate the proposed cut, and subject them to a “YES” or “NO” vote. The editorial department, led by Owei Lakenfa, threw out the pay cut, but it was defeated by other departments with their combined superior vote. The outcome was messy. Any reporter who came to work but filed no reports was fired, and test candidates on the employment wait list were immediately employed to replace them. Owei Lakenfa honourably left the Guardian. I missed him because, despite his fiery stance on union matters, he was a radiant, noble person. You may accuse him and his group of youthful exuberance, label them as birds of passage which abandon a broken tree branch and the endangered mother tree for personal safety and wellness, but they made good points. They were through with sanguine and melancholy blood temperaments and were deeply seeped in the choleric, their spirit having ridden on their generative power and connected with the material world in which they discovered ugly forms against which they battled.

    Kayode Komolafe was one foot in Labour and unionism, and another in socialism and communism. Mathematican Dr Edwin Madunagu, who, like him, is a 2025 June 12 Democracy Hero, was his socialism/ communism mentor and soul mate. He was so soft spoken and easy going you wouldn’t immediately recognise he was an unrepentant communist, even after the Berlin Wall was scrapped to bring freedom and humanity to East Germans, and I returned to the newsroom from a visit to that country with crumbs of the bricks as momentos.

    Today, I will tell Owei Lakenfa and Kayode Komolafe something they did not know about their Editor and Mr Alex Ibru. Rumour mongers with anti-Yoruba sentiments brewed lies that Mr Ibru gave “hand-outs” to Directors to keep the wage bill down. This was to discredit Lade Bonuola and Femi Kusa for a take-over by other nationalities. I was appointed Editor in March 1988 at the same time as Emeka Izeze was appointed Editor of the Sunday title and Mitchel Obi( now a Ph.D.), was appointed Editor of the Guardian Express, the afternoon paper. For 12 months after this appointment, none of us earned an extra Kobo above our pre-promotion pay. We were told the company lost 7 million Naira the previous business year. I thought the general outlook and perception of the paper carved by Dr. Stanley Macebuh, an academic, was responsible for this. As I told Mr Ibru, the newspaper was not only a social institution but big business as well. It cost more money to set up a newspaper then than it cost to set up a bank. I asked Mr Ibru if we could budget the salaries we wanted to earn in the newsroom, and if he would permit this if we hit or even exceeded it. He probably saw the proposal as an unachievable joke. Nevertheless, he agreed. Within six months, we turned the loss into profit and made more money. My colleague and I set to work, supported by him, and we made the Guardian the first compartmetalised newspaper in Nigeria, connecting it to various markets such as Property or Real Estate, Information Technology, Alternative Medicine Community and Executive Jobs and Management among others. It is on this stucture that The Guardian continue to financially thrive till today. Mr Ibru kept to his word. Three times in one year for about three years, we had general pay rises. However, Condition of Service were nothing to write home about by the time I retired from the Board in 1999, because Mr Ibru thought my colleagues and I were Pro-NADECO journalists. I will address this soon. I wish to recognise, nevertheless, his good naturedness in accepting my proposal that we finance from the surplus profits (1) 45 plots of land at OPIC Isheri North for 45 members of staff who had been working for five years (2) About nine hectares of land (or more than 100 plots of land) at Opic Isheri North for the Guardian to build staff quarters (3)one plot of land for each Director at Opic Isheri North (4) School Scholarships for children of Junior staff which Dr Tunji Dare was to manage.

    Some staff who were not covered by the plan were bitter. So, I encouraged information by junior staff of a Guardian Co-operative Society to which, unusually for the Director, I belonged in the spirit of espirit de corps. That co-operative Society yielded a Guardian Housing Estate in Matogun,an Ogun State community near Lagos State in which willing members were assigned land to build houses. Thus, Matogun counter balanced Isheri North, which I suspect has not yielded a Guardian Staff Housing Estate . (4) To the credit of the proprietors, they also accepted the proposal that the company pay for the staff land purchases in Isheri North and charges for the various Certificates of Occupancy ( C OF O)…and instalmentally deduct the debits from the salaries of allottees.(5) Additionally, it was agreed that the Editorial department would be entitled to five per cent of its surplus budget on the Monday Edition to host quarterly luncheons for the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers ( NIESV) which saturated that edition with Real Estate Advertisement. That package created symbiotic blessings for both the Guardian and the NIESV. It offered the NIESV its own newspaper, as it were every Monday, within the Guardian newspaper, a new trend in Nigerian journalism. It brought increased and effective customer traffic and prosperity to the NIESV. For the Guardian newspaper, it increased readership, raised advertisement traffic from about four pages every Monday to about 25 pages.

    The foregoing was one side of the coin of the Guardian. Bayo Onanuga, Owei Lakenfa and Kayode Komolafe may have left the Guardian when a new day began to dawn for the staff. However, their imprints cannot be extricated from what was to become the biggest pay package in the newspaper industry at that time, a salute to their courage and the inputs they unofficially made to the working paper aforementioned. There is an other side of every coin. The Guardian of my days had its own share of it.

    I retired from the Board of the Guardian in 1999. Till this day, I have no records of my compulsory contributions backed by the company’s contribution paid into my National Provident Fund ( NPF) Account. The little I have saved up there according to Stanbic IBTC records, came from Daily Times where I worked for 12 years and interest on the savings. It amounted to a mere 109,000 Naira about two years ago. Even this, I couldn’t access irespective of my voter card and national ID identifications, because I couldn’t present my letter of employment of 8 March 1971 at the Daily Times.

    •NEXT WEEK: Democracy Hero MR ALEX IBRU

  • Rotary DG unveils ₦150m plan to tackle child health, community empowerment

    Rotary DG unveils ₦150m plan to tackle child health, community empowerment

    The newly installed District Governor of Rotary District 9127, Dr. Princess Joy Okoro has unveiled a strategic ₦150m plan focused on maternal and child health, food security, and grassroots economic development.

    She said the commitment to the projects for the 2025-2026 Rotary year aligned with Rotary’s seven global focus areas.

    Okoro disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at a press briefing during her unveiling as the district’s second District Governor and first female leader of the young Rotary District 9127, where she emphasized the urgency of practical action over rhetoric.

    She identified her immediate priorities as ending hunger, reducing maternal and child mortality, and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

    The district aims to lower maternal and child deaths by 20 percent over the next year by supporting maternal clinics with prenatal screenings, nutrition kits, and educational outreach in addition to the Rotary-funded mobile health clinics that will be deployed to underserved communities, she said.

    On polio eradication, she pledged continued advocacy, with a district-wide campaign, partnerships with leaders in high-risk zones, and a Polio Pledge Rally planned in collaboration with global health stakeholders.

    “We are 99.9% there, but the final mile demands urgency,” she said.

    She also said economic empowerment will be pursued through the establishment of microfinance hubs for women-led businesses, technical training in agribusiness and technology, and vocational education for youth.

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    These interventions, she stressed, are not aid but “investments in self-reliance.”

    Okoro reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to transparency, pledging that project funds would be tracked and publicly reported.

    She also encouraged members to support the Rotary Foundation, citing its role in funding impactful initiatives like the training of 500 midwives last year.

    According to her, an economic grant competition will be launched to fund grassroots development proposals across the district.

    Okoro highlighted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core values and committed to promoting gender equity and environmental sustainability across all Rotary programs.

    In her acceptance speech, Okoro pledged to support club presidents in leading vibrant, inclusive, and responsive clubs.

    “You will have unrestricted access to the district office,” she said, assuring them of full institutional backing.

    Earlier, the outgoing District Governor, Mike Ukachi Nwanoshiri, while giving his stewardship for the past Rotary year, recounted milestones achieved during his tenure.

    He confirmed the formal transfer of Rotary Centers in Abuja and Jos and reported the deployment of equipment, including sewing machines for youth empowerment projects in multiple States.

    These were procured through private partnerships, not District funds, he said.

    According to Nwanoshiri, who was the pioneer DG of the District, nine club-led community development projects across health, water, and education have been approved for immediate execution, with accountability reports due by December.

    The outgoing DG also announced ₦5.8 million had been raised for a generator at the Abuja Rotary Center, calling on the new leadership to complete its installation.

  • FG intensifies cancer fight, seals pact with American top cancer centre

    FG intensifies cancer fight, seals pact with American top cancer centre

    The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), on Tuesday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the VCU-Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia, aimed at boosting cancer research, clinical trials, and treatment capacity in Nigeria.

    The agreement, signed during a ceremony in Abuja, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to deepen international collaboration in the fight against cancer and strengthen research tailored to the country’s genetic and clinical realities.

    The MoU is expected to catalyse several initiatives, including enhanced data sharing for more representative clinical trials, co-designed training programs, capacity building for local researchers and clinicians, and the development of cancer infrastructure in Nigeria.

    It also sets the stage for deeper cooperation in vaccine-related cancer innovations and population-specific therapy designs.

    The agreement marks a strategic milestone in Nigeria’s health diplomacy and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve universal healthcare delivery.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, NICRAT Director-General, Professor Usman Aliyu, said the partnership reflects both the urgency and promise of tailoring cancer care to the country’s unique needs.

    Amid Nigeria’s escalating cancer burden, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates claims over 72,000 lives annually, the Director General emphasised, “This collaboration with VCU is not just timely, but essential to what we are building in Nigeria under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Health.

    Against the backdrop of Nigeria grappling with a rising cancer burden, estimated by WHO to result in over 72,000 deaths annually, the DG said, “This collaboration with VCU is not just timely, but essential to what we are building in Nigeria under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Health.

    “Cancer care is no longer about localised treatment. It is global in scale, multi-modal in approach, and must be informed by evidence and research”.

    He stressed that one of the most pressing challenges is Nigeria’s and Africa’s underrepresentation in global clinical trials. According to Aliyu, fewer than 2% of Africans participate in clinical studies globally, a gap that leaves African populations reliant on treatments developed without consideration for their genetic and environmental contexts.

    “Our genetic makeup is different, and this has real implications for how we respond to treatment. Through this collaboration, we aim to conduct more clinical trials locally and ensure that future therapies are not only effective but also safer for Nigerians and Africans at large,” the DG noted

    He further noted that Nigeria is not approaching the partnership as a beneficiary alone, saying, “This MoU is not a one-sided arrangement. We also have something to offer. The goal is to elevate standards on both sides”.

    Echoing the same sentiment, Professor Robert Winn, Director of the VCU-Massey Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the first African-American to lead a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated centre in the United States, emphasised the need for authentic, two-way partnerships rooted in mutual respect.

    “In the past, many partnerships with Africa have been extractive, ‘we’ll take your tissue, write papers, and say thank you.’ That’s not our model. We operate under a framework called Global Asset Partnership. Both sides bring value to the table. We learn from each other.”

    He underscored the urgency of expanding access to global research breakthroughs, particularly among communities of African descent, noting, “Too often, the cutting-edge benefits of American research are confined within its borders. But if we’re talking about a global health future that includes people of African descent, then partnerships like this are not only necessary, they’re urgent.”

    The MoU is expected to catalyse several initiatives, including enhanced data sharing for more representative clinical trials, co-designed training programs, capacity building for local researchers and clinicians, and the development of cancer infrastructure in Nigeria.

    It also sets the stage for deeper cooperation in vaccine-related cancer innovations and population-specific therapy designs.

    Winn noted that VCU-Massey, a Carnegie tier-one research institution, rivals centres such as Stanford and Johns Hopkins in research excellence.

    However, he said its unique strength lies in its commitment to democratizing innovation and bringing science to underserved communities.

    “We’ve adopted what we call the ‘community-to-bench’ model, rather than starting research at the lab bench, we begin with communities.

    “If the people can’t reach your bedside, your science is incomplete.”

    Highlighting the power of clinical trials to change cancer outcomes, Winn challenged outdated perceptions of trials as dangerous experiments, stressing, “Clinical trials today are not dangerous experiments; they represent hope, especially when existing standard care options are no longer effective.

    “In the U.S., following strategic investments in trials and research since the 1990s, cancer mortality dropped by 36% over the next 30 years.

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    That means more people are attending weddings and graduations instead of funerals. The same is possible here in Nigeria.”

    He acknowledged that Africa does not lack medical talent but suffers from underinvestment in trial infrastructure. “It’s not about doctors. It’s about systems. With the right ecosystem, those same Nigerian doctors can lead global trials.”

    To support this vision, Winn shared VCU’s success with community-based trial design, noting, “In glioblastoma trials, one of the deadliest brain cancers, we achieved 47% participation from rural populations, compared to the 17% industry average.

    “That was possible because we trained researchers in both trial design and community engagement.”

    He encouraged Nigeria to consider similar regional mapping to ensure equitable access to trials across its six geopolitical zones, an approach he praised as “visionary” in Nigeria’s national cancer strategy.

    Appealing for partnerships that move beyond tokenism and toward systemic transformation, Winn said, “This is not about what we take. It’s about what we share. For far too long, global partnerships have meant extracting data or tissue from African countries with little return. This is different; we are here to build a sustainable model together.

    “True partnership is not just about what we offer, but what we gain by listening, adapting, and growing together. Let’s not just do things differently. Let’s do different things entirely.”

  • FG injects ₦65b into basic health 

    FG injects ₦65b into basic health 

    The Federal government has approved two major disbursements totalling over ₦65 billion to support the continued implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in 2025, it has emerged. 

    This followed the resolutions of the 11th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting  in Abuja on Monday, chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

    According to the MOC, ₦32.88 billion from the first-quarter 2025 release has been approved to cover BHCPF implementation for both the first and second quarters of the year. 

    The allocation, split evenly at ₦16.44 billion per quarter, aligns with the 2020 BHCPF Guidelines and is expected to ensure the continuity of critical health financing activities. 

    A further ₦32.88 billion was also approved for third-quarter implementation, with disbursement expected by the end of August or upon the release of funds by relevant authorities.

    The MOC reaffirmed its commitment to timely and efficient disbursement mechanisms to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare system and move the country closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage. 

    Additionally, the Committee formally approved the revised BHCPF Guidelines 2.0, which are slated for dissemination before the end of the third quarter. 

    The updated guidelines aim to enhance implementation coordination and accountability across all levels, the Minister said.

    As part of its efforts to improve data transparency and service delivery monitoring, the MOC also confirmed the phased rollout of the Mini District Health Information System (Mini-DHIS) beginning in July 2025. 

    The platform is expected to enable real-time visibility into operations at the primary healthcare level.

    Before the resolutions, the gateways to the Fund presented their progress reports and strategic updates on their activities. 

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    The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) reported that over ₦74.8 billion has been disbursed through the Fund since its inception in 2019. 

    As of the second quarter of 2025, over 2.6 million beneficiaries have been enrolled under the BHCPF, with health insurance coverage extended across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. 

    The NHIA also disclosed that it has scaled total health insurance enrolment to over 20 million Nigerians, and outlined plans to complete protocol finalization, facility accreditation, and data verification, while expanding citizen engagement efforts.

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) reported that 752 Programme Financial Management Officers (PFMOs) have now been deployed across 98 percent of local government areas. 

    The agency also disclosed that 6,512 out of 8,354 BHCPF-supported primary health centres have been visited, reflecting a 78 percent active oversight rate.

    In the last quarter alone, 301 PHCs were revitalized, bringing the cumulative total to 1,163 completed facilities as of June 2025.

    The National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) revealed that 25 States have now established Emergency Medical Services (EMS) structures, with 13 States and the FCT fully operational while an additional 12 States have been onboarded. 

    So far, nearly 2,900 patients have received emergency treatment under the BHCPF EMS gateway.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) emphasized the integration of surveillance and health security functions into the BHCPF platform as a key step in improving early warning systems and outbreak response at the community level.

    Providing updates on coordination efforts, the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Secretariat outlined recent improvements in sectoral planning, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and joint reviews that aim to improve health outcomes through better alignment among partners. 

    Similarly, the EU-supported SARAH project reported progress in accountability systems, digital service delivery tracking, and capacity-building initiatives targeting maternal and child health. 

    This includes training on adolescent-friendly services, public financial management, and preparations for implementing the Safer Birth Bundle of Care. 

    Other milestones include expanded training in comprehensive and basic emergency obstetric care and enhanced surveillance of maternal and child mortality.

    To further improve sectoral transparency, the MOC resolved to increase visibility around the outcomes of health sector reforms by investing in strategic communications, documenting success stories, and expanding engagement with the media.

    The Minister reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to delivering equitable, accountable, and efficient healthcare to Nigerians through the sustained implementation of the BHCPF and the broader goals of the health sector reform agenda.

  • Abiodun pledges govt’s support for oldest hospital

    Abiodun pledges govt’s support for oldest hospital

    Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has pledged the state government’s more collaboration with the oldest hospital in Nigeria – Sacred Heart Hospital Lantoro, Abeokuta – in the areas of resources and technical support to ensure effective and efficient healthcare delivery to people.

    Describing the 130-year-old Catholic hospital as the “cradle of Nigeria’s medical journey,” Abiodun said the facility is at the heart of healthcare in Ogun and other parts of Nigeria, emphasising: “This vital and iconic organ of the healthcare system must not die.”

    Abiodun spoke yesterday at Sacred Heart Hospital Lantoro, Abeokuta during the kick off of the celebration of the 130th anniversary of the hospital.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, commended the hospital for its partnership with the state-owned health facilities.

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    He hailed the hospital’s legacy of “selflessness, compassion, and sacrifice,” and assured that his administration would support its rehabilitation and development so that its “healing mission” does not fail.

    Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, called state and federal governments to improve on funding healthcare to arrest the brain drain plaguing the  sector.

    Odetoyinbo appealed to health professionals to be patriotic and compassionate towards their country and to stay back and continue providing quality healthcare services to Nigerians.

    Bishop Odetoyinbo said: “We train them here, they do their practicals in our hospital, but when they graduate, they disappear. Even the Federal Government cannot retain them, and the private sector is not any better. That is the reality. It is affecting everyone, and it is so sad.

    “We are appealing to our nurses and doctors to stay back and work because there is a lot of work here. Though the finances may not be adequate, there is still much to do. So, we are begging them to please stay, and we thank those who have remained committed to caring for the people.

    “I also appeal to the government, both at the state and federal levels, to ensure increased funding for this critical sector.”

  • Nigerian scientist raises alarm over antibiotic resistance, advocates microbiome innovation

    Nigerian scientist raises alarm over antibiotic resistance, advocates microbiome innovation

    A US based Nigerian microbiologist and doctoral student at the University of Kansas, United States, Chukwuma Great Udensi, has raised the alarm over the rising threat of antibiotic resistance (ABR) in Nigeria, warning that it could severely impact the nation’s healthcare system, economy, and productivity.

    In a statement to The Nation on Tuesday, Udensi identified microbiome-based innovations as a promising solution to combat ABR and broader antimicrobial resistance (AMR) diseases.

    Highlighting his research on microbial ecosystems, Udensi described the human gut microbiome as a “hidden pharmacy” capable of producing bioactive compounds that fight infections, support immune function, and reduce the need for conventional antibiotics. “These microbes do more than digest food,” he said. “They create antimicrobial molecules that naturally suppress harmful bacteria and prevent infections.”

    He emphasised that promoting gut health through better nutrition, lifestyle choices, and microbiome-targeted therapies could help reduce antibiotic dependence and slow resistance rates.

    Emerging global alternatives include probiotics, prebiotics, faecal microbiota transplants, and engineered gut bacteria, which he said have shown remarkable results, especially in treating infections like Clostridioides difficile.

    On the economic impact, Udensi warned that unchecked antibiotic resistance could slash global GDP by up to 3.5% by 2050. For Nigeria, this could mean losses in the billions across critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, trade, and labour.

    He blamed Nigeria’s worsening ABR crisis on widespread use of substandard antibiotics, aggressive and often inappropriate drug marketing, and weak regulatory enforcement. To reverse the trend, Udensi called for urgent investment in microbiome research and the exploration of Nigeria’s indigenous microbial resources for cost-effective treatments.

    Read Also: NAFDAC flags, bans counterfeit batch of Tarivid antibiotic

    “We must empower local microbiologists to discover beneficial microbes that can be developed into practical therapies,” he said.

    Udensi also urged the Nigerian government to tighten drug regulation, enhance diagnostic systems, implement nationwide ABR surveillance, train health workers, improve sanitation, promote vaccination, and educate the public.

    He concluded with a call to action for Nigerians to avoid self-medication, complete prescribed antibiotics, practice proper hygiene, and embrace preventive healthcare through immunisation.

    “As the world confronts the rising threat of antibiotic resistance, the microbiome holds enormous potential to transform public health in Nigeria and globally,” he said.

  • Resurgence of previously contained diseases threatens global public health

    Resurgence of previously contained diseases threatens global public health

    • By Mojisola Alaiya 

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has worked assiduously over the years for the eradication of many communicable diseases.

     However, infectious diseases that were hitherto under control are re-emerging globally and the pathogens of these diseases are highly resistant to known antibiotics. 

    Some of these re-emerging diseases include tuberculosis, plague, Lassa fever, yellow fever, measles, cholera, malaria, typhoid fever, influenza, dengue fever, Staph infections and diphtheria.

    According to the WHO, factors responsible for the resurgence of these diseases include reduction in vaccination rates and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in addition to climate and environmental changes. 

    The WHO reiterated that immunization and vaccination are the keys to curbing infection and spread of these communicable diseases.

    There has been reemergence of diphtheria in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

    Diphtheria is a deadly disease that has hitherto been brought under control globally.  The WHO earlier stated that global diphtheria disease burden decreased by over 80% between 1980 and 2018. However, the WHO African Region is presently grappling with a resurgence of the disease with five active outbreaks currently ongoing in Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and South Africa. Diphtheria is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a gram positive bacterium transmitted through respiratory droplets, close physical contact, contaminated clothing and objects etc.

    In Nigeria, the country’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) stated that 42,642 suspected cases of diphtheria were reported with 25,812 confirmed cases across the country between February and March 2025. Out of the confirmed cases 1,319 deaths were recorded.

    Diphtheria causes toxic damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys and peripheral nerves.

    Tuberculosis is another disease that is re-emerging across the globe.

    In Europe more than 225,000 cases of tuberculosis were reported in 2023 and 16,000 fatalities were recorded. This was stated in the 2025 European Tuberculosis Surveillance Report. According to the WHO, about 53 member states in the European Region reported tuberculosis cases with 30% of the cases being drug-resistant. The world’s top 30 countries with high-burden of drug resistant tuberculosis are also found in the European Region.

    Read Also: Fed Govt, WHO push science-based reforms for safer food chain

     It was reported that more than 53% of Europe’s cases of drug resistant tuberculosis are among previously treated patients.

    In the USA, 147 cases were reported during an outbreak early this year 2025 with two fatalities.  According to the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tuberculosis pathogen has developed multi-drug resistant strains. Hence, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis has once again been added to the global list of critical pathogens by the WHO.

    Measles, an airborne disease, has also resurfaced with a vengeance.  A total of 57 countries reported measles outbreak in March 2025. These countries include Morocco, Congo DR, Canada and the USA. According to the WHO, more than 25,000 cases were reported in Morocco from October 2023 to April 2025 with 184 deaths recorded. The country’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection stated that the cases were recorded across all regions of the country and 68% of these cases occurred among individuals under the age of 18. In DR Congo, about 2,000 cases were reported with 180 fatalities.

    Reports also indicate that the US is facing a measles outbreak despite the declaration in the year 2000 that the disease has been eliminated. According to Dr. Dan Filardo, Head of Measles Task Force, US CDC, as at 11th of May 2025, about 1001 confirmed cases have been reported. Resurgences in measles outbreak have also been reported in Canada with about 1,000 cases and Mexico with more than 400 cases.

    Resurgence of meningitis has also been reported. 

    Meningitis disease is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Countries in sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria are reportedly vulnerable to the outbreak of the disease. Though the WHO reported decline in cases of the disease in this region, a significant increase in cases has been reported recently.  Cases of the meningococcal disease are also rising in the USA.

    Cholera is a water-borne infection caused by Vibrio cholera a Gram-negative bacterium. The symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and blood in stool. According to the WHO, there has been a rise in cholera cases in The African Region especially in the Eastern and Southern Africa.

    The WHO stated that since 2023, the Region has been grappling with the worst cholera epidemic which has affected 13 countries. More than 200,000 cases and 3,000 deaths have been recorded.

    Zambia recorded more than 9,500 cases, 374 deaths and case fatality rate of 3.9%. 52% of the reported cases are children. Zimbabwe so far reported more than 18,000 cases with 1 in 6 new cholera infection affecting children under five.

    UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli said, “The cholera outbreak in the region is a significant concern to the health and well-being of children.” He stated that the impact of climate change, worsened by phenomena such as El Niño, further underscores the urgency of the situation.

    Antimicrobial resistance makes treatment of infectious diseases increasingly difficult. With increasing disruption of the ecosystem brought about by climate change, containing the spread of these diseases during an outbreak is also an uphill task.

     Therefore, prevention through vaccination as stated by the WHO is the most effective way to control these communicable diseases.

  • Tabitha-Abimbola foundation facilitates free medical screening, treatment for vulnerable

    Tabitha-Abimbola foundation facilitates free medical screening, treatment for vulnerable

    The Tabitha-Abimbola Foundation has facilitated free medical screening, consultancy and treatment for no fewer than 100 vulnerable people in the Agboyi-Ketu area of Lagos.

    The founder and CEO of the nonprofit organisation, Mrs Abimbola Agbebiyi, said that the gesture was part of the activities to mark the foundation’s second anniversary.

    According to her, the free medical outreach that took place on Saturday touched the lives of at least 100 beneficiaries, offering screenings for diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis B, and other critical health conditions.

    “In a heartwarming show of compassion and community service, the Tabitha-Abimbola Foundation has held its very first free medical outreach, bringing vital healthcare services to low-income residents of Agboyi.

    “This outreach marks the beginning of a three-part anniversary project by the foundation.

    “In addition to the check-ups, participants were given free medications to manage existing health concerns.

    “But it wasn’t just about treatment. The foundation also hosted a health talk, an interactive session that educated beneficiaries on preventive care and gave them the chance to ask questions about their well-being.

    “To reinforce the message of healthy living, fresh fruits tailored to suit individual health needs were also distributed, ensuring nutrition support alongside medical care,” Agbebiyi said.

    According to her, the outreach reflects the foundation’s mission to uplift, to serve, and most importantly, to restore hope.

     The founder said, “This initiative is all about love, care, and community. We want people to know they are not forgotten—we’re here to stand with them.

    “The Tabitha-Abimbola Foundation’s effort is not just a one-time event, but a bold step toward equitable healthcare in underserved communities.”

    Agbebiyi added that two more community projects will follow soon, focusing on health, education, and economic empowerment.

    Read Also: Tabitha-Abimbola foundation marks second anniversary with free medical outreach in Lagos

    The beneficiaries expressed deep gratitude, many saying this was the first time they received such care without cost.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Femi Ilori, who applauded the founder for her magnanimous support to the vulnerable, said, “One of the major challenges people here face is a lack of funds for healthcare. This outreach is timely and feels like an answer to our prayers.”

    Other beneficiaries said: “We are so happy! We thank the Tabitha-Abimbola Foundation for remembering us. This means a lot!”

    The foundation supports women, children, widows, and the physically challenged through sustainable grassroots programmes

  • Alcohol intake and susceptibility to liver cancer: How much is too much

    Alcohol intake and susceptibility to liver cancer: How much is too much

    • By Mojisola Alaiya

    Excessive alcohol consumption is a public health issue worldwide with detrimental impact on the health, social and economic wellbeing of individuals and the society. However, negative attitudinal disposition towards knowledge of the danger of alcohol consumption on health has been observed among alcohol consumers. Most people do not see themselves as suffering from alcohol addiction but deny it as we may it is a major health and social problem in the society.

    The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) listed alcohol and its major metabolite (acetaldehyde) as a Group 1 carcinogen in humans. Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive substance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption is the causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions. It is reported to account for about 3.3 million deaths worldwide and for 5.1% of the global burden of disease with death, disease and injury related to its consumption clearly linked to economic status of individuals, countries and regions (WHO 2018).

    The liver is one of the most vital organs of the body and performs a variety of functions. It is the primary site of alcohol metabolism and breakdown of toxins in the body.  Its functions also include protein synthesis, glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, hormone production, production of bile etc.  It is responsible for up to 500 functions usually in combination with other systems and organs. No artificial organ or device is capable of emulating all the functions of the liver. Liver dialysis can only do some of these functions. Care of the liver is therefore essential.

    Alcohol consumption affects all the major organs in the body. However the liver, being the organ responsible for detoxification, in the body is much more affected. Alcohol abuse has been identified as a major risk factor for liver cancer and other cancer incidences such as cancer of the throat, pharynx and colon. Liver cancer is reported to be the fastest growing cancer worldwide by the WHO.

    How much alcohol consumption is too much? The WHO, the American Institute for Cancer Research, World Cancer Research Fund and the IARC have all stated that no level of continuous alcohol consumption is completely safe hence any level of its consumption can be associated with a range of cancers. 

    Healthcare providers are often baffled and frustrated by the failure of many alcohol addicts to recognize the extent to which alcohol use has affected their lives and the lives of those around them.  Many automobile accidents can be attributed to alcoholism. 

    Thus alcohol addicts not only harm themselves they are dangerous to the society. He or she is a mobile death merchant on wheels apart from being on a suicide mission.

    Alcoholism as a medical condition aggravates other health issues such as kidney failure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic alcohol consumption causes damage to the liver, digestive system and nearly every organ of the body. It increases susceptibility to cancer of the pancreas, throat, pharynx, breast, colon, mouth, rectum etc. It leads to heart diseases by raising blood pressure and the level of fat [lipids] in the blood. It increases the risk of stroke, nervous breakdown, obesity, psychological disturbances, diabetic complications and alcoholic hepatitis.

    What happens when alcohol is consumed?

    Twenty per cent of the quantity ingested is absorbed directly across the stomach walls and can reach the brain in one minute. The action is faster if the alcohol is taken on an empty stomach. Alcohol is metabolized extremely quickly unlike food. The liver produces an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase which breaks down part of the remaining alcohol in the stomach thus helping to reduce the amount of alcohol in the blood. Women however produce less of this enzyme which explains why they are easily intoxicated. Normally liver cells prefer to breakdown fatty acids but when there is high alcohol content the liver is forced to first metabolize the alcohol letting the fatty acids accumulate in huge amount thereby changing permanently the structure of the liver cells. The result is a condition known as fatty liver.

    Fatty liver is the first stage of liver deterioration and it affects the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the liver. With continued excessive alcohol consumption, the liver cells begin to die off forming fibrous scar tissues. This condition is called Liver Fibrosis. The situation can be prevented from degenerating further at this stage if the alcohol addict stop drinking and make effort to eat food rich in nutrients because the liver can still regenerate itself at this stage. However if the alcohol abuse persists, the last stage sets in leading to the condition called liver cirrhosis. The damage to the liver at this stage is irreversible and ultimately leads to death.

    What is the way out?

    Moderate use of alcohol is recommended but there are different interpretations of the term. For some, taking five bottles of beer per day is moderate. Studies have shown that a safe alcohol intake should not be more than two drinks for a whole day (and this should not be too often). A drink is approximately 34cl for beer (i.e. one canned tin of beer), 14cl for wine and 2.8cl distilled alcohol like gin etc.

    In addition, the way alcohol is taken matters. Here are some tips that can help you prevent intoxication and over working your liver if you find it difficult to stop alcohol consumption: 

    • Sip your drink slowly. This gives the enzyme, Alcohol dehydrogenase, time to breakdown alcohol and reduce its concentration.

    • Always consume alcohol with food, NEVER drink on an empty stomach. 

    • Drink plenty of water in between drinks.

    Alcohol addiction is a serious mental health issue. In the United States, it is recorded that over 14 million people suffer from this health issue and approximately 88,000 deaths are attributable to excessive alcohol use each year. Alcohol addiction not only affects health it also affects your finances, credibility and peace of mind.

    It is important to seek help when alcohol consumption becomes an addiction. Anyone that finds it difficult to function effectively without alcohol requires medical and psychological treatment. It is not a thing to be ashamed of and living in denial will not stop alcohol from cutting your life short. Make an effort to save your life and that of somebody else. Make the right choice.

  • Outpatient infusion, arthritis center opens in Abuja

    Outpatient infusion, arthritis center opens in Abuja

    A United States of America – trained physician Dr. Helen Mbakwe, has unveiled the country’s first outpatient infusion and arthritis management center in Abuja.

    Mbakwe said that the newly launched frontline infusion and arthritis medical facility offers specialised non-surgical therapies for arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and chronic infections—setting a new standard for outpatient care in West Africa.

    The unveiling was attended by senior government officials and healthcare advocates who praised the innovation, vision, and investment behind the initiative.

    The Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment (FCTA), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, noted the importance of such a facility in Abuja, citing the lack of comprehensive data on rheumatoid arthritis prevalence in northern Nigeria.

    She commended Dr. Mbakwe for her foresight and commitment to filling that gap.

    Dr. Mbakwe underscored the transformational potential of infusion therapy, saying: “This is not just treatment—it’s a lifeline. The Frontline Center combines compassion with innovation to deliver lasting relief.”

    The center also introduces Nigeria’s first Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program, designed to combat antibiotic-resistant infections using precision multi-dosing IV systems.

    Dr. Mbakwe dedicated the milestone to her faith, family, and patients, calling the facility a beacon of hope.

    “The Frontline Center is poised to become a regional hub for arthritis and infusion care—not just in Nigeria, but across West Africa,” Mbakwe added.

    Also speaking, Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs (FCTA), Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, emphasised the center’s importance to women’s health, particularly as autoimmune conditions often disproportionately affect women.

    Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Abubakar Kana praised the initiative as a powerful response to medical brain drain.

    “Dr. Helen has given us an anti-Japa story—coming back home, investing in our healthcare system, and challenging other professionals to do the same,” he said.