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Nigerian health workers seeking greener pasture has been directed to gladly resign their appointment with Federal Government before leaving the country. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa stated this in a directive by the FG, that health workers seeking employment opportunities abroad must resign their appointments before leaving. Alausa revealed this on Saturday, stating that the era where health workers could apply for leave of absence and pursue opportunities in other countries has ended. He disclosed that the ban on leave of absence for health workers resulted from an Executive Order issued by President Bola Tinubu, who aims to combat the ‘Japa Syndrome’ facing the nation’s health sector. The ‘Japa Syndrome’ refers to Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Mansur Kabir as the Chairman of the Board of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and re-appointed Prof. Moji Adeyeye as its Chief Executive Officer.
Professor Ranti Familoni, an expert in Medicine and Cardiology from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, has advised Nigerians with “unstable cardiovascular conditions” to stay away from the Sunday African Cup of Nations final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast. This was due to the issues surrounding people collapsing while watching football, leading to sudden death. Following the just concluded AFCON semi-final games on Wednesday, between the Super Eagles of Nigeria, and the Bafana Bafana of the South African, several death cases were recorded due to the effect of how competitive it was. an All Progressives Congress chieftain, Cairo Ojougboh, a serving National Youth Service Corps member, and three others slumped and passed away while watching the Nigeria vs. South Africa football match.
Gombe State has recorded first index case of Lassa fever for the year 2024 as announced by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru. The commissioner made the declaration in his during a news briefing saying that the patient is a 25-year-old commercial driver who allegedly travelled to Adamawa State and stayed for two weeks before returning to Gombe. According to him: “Upon his return to Gombe, he started running temperature and was admitted to Sunnah and Ahajas Clinics, respectively.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim-Anas has said, Nigeria is among the 3 per cent of the world’s population and with a major contributor to the global burden of maternal and newborn deaths. This, she said, attributed to poorly functional Primary Health Care (PHC) systems resulting in a lack of available equipment and low healthcare coverage, as well as inadequate financing in the health sector.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted dust mist from Friday to Sunday across the country. NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja anticipated dust haze with localized visibility of less than or equal to 1000m over the northern states.
The number of children dying globally before their fifth birthday has reached a historic low, dropping to 4.9 million in 2022, the latest report by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) revealed. The report reveals that more children are surviving today than ever before, with the global under-5 mortality rate declining by 51 per cent since 2000. Several low-and lower-middle-income countries have outpaced this decline, showing that progress is possible when resources are sufficiently allocated to primary health care, including child health and well-being. For example, the findings show that Cambodia, Malawi, Mongolia, and Rwanda have reduced under-5 mortality by over 75 per cent since 2000.
Public health expert Dr. Gabriel Ameh has urged Nigerians to stay hydrated and prevent fatigue as the period of abnormally hot weather sets in the Federal Capital Territory. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Ameh noted that the high temperatures combined with the unstable power supply could cause illnesses, endanger cattle, or possibly result in fatalities.
The Federal Government (FG) through the Federal Ministry of Environment has launched the National Deratization framework exercise aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of Lassa fever across the country. This was made known during a press briefing by Mahmud Kambari, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment who represented the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako.
The House of Representatives has demanded the Federal Government to investigate as well as curtail the spread of an unknown disease that has killed many in Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State. The Federal House requests that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare urgently deploy its personnel to verify the nature of the disease. The House also urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention put-up surveillance measures to contain the spread of the disease and ensure that adequate treatment is extended to affected victims.
The Rivers State Ministry of Health has confirmed a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever with four cases recorded and one person reportedly dead. This was revealed in a statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, during a press conference today.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) voiced an alarm on Tuesday, February 20, over the measles cases that have been rising so fast. Natasha Crowcroft, WHO's technical adviser on measles and rubella, who said Measles cases are significantly underreported noted that "We in the measles world are extremely concerned." In 2023 there were more than 306,000 cases globally, which is a 79 per cent rise from 2022. Measles is a viral infection that's serious for small children but is easily preventable by a vaccine. The disease spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing. The UN health organization models the data every year to produce more precise numbers. In 2022, it projects 9.2 million cases and 136,216 measles fatalities.
Medical doctors under the auspices of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan in Oyo State have commenced a three-day strike over alleged assault on one of their members by relatives of a patient in the hospital.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down the Eziukwu Market, popularly known as Cemetery Market, in Aba, Abia State, following production and selling of dangerous fake beverages.
The acting Head, Media and Publicity, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Manji Yarling, has disclosed the collaboration of the Austrian and the Federal Government of Nigeria on Transport Infrastructure and other Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed in its safety audit report, incidences of sexual violence against children living in some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Benue State.
The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Enugu State Chapter has threatened an industrial action over abduction of members in the state and the need for the State Government and security agencies to emplace measures to safeguard Medical and Dental Council workers in the State.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV, vaccine into its routine immunization system, to protect over 7.7 million girls between aged 9 to 14 years as part of Renewed Health Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Health
The number of children dying globally before their fifth birthday has reached a historic low, dropping to 4.9 million in 2022, the latest report by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) revealed. The report reveals that more children are surviving today than ever before, with the global under-5 mortality rate declining by 51 per cent since 2000. Several low-and lower-middle-income countries have outpaced this decline, showing that progress is possible when resources are sufficiently allocated to primary health care, including child health and well-being. For example, the findings show that Cambodia, Malawi, Mongolia, and Rwanda have reduced under-5 mortality by over 75 per cent since 2000.