Health

Ahead of the 2025 World Obstetric Fistula Day, health professionals in Northeast Nigeria are urging heightened awareness and proactive measures to combat the preventable yet debilitating condition. Dr. Aisha Adamu Buba, a consultant gynaecologist at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, highlighted the importance of the day during an interview with journalists in Damaturu on Friday. She stressed the need for both government and community efforts to focus on awareness, prevention, and treatment. She said, “Obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that leaves women with lifelong physical and social burdens, is often caused by prolonged obstructed labour, surgical errors, or unsafe delivery practices.” Buba described it as a “heartbreaking consequence of neglected maternal healthcare.”

Researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking wearable device that continuously monitors the heart and lungs of hospital patients as they rest, presenting a transformative alternative to traditional CT scans. Developed by scientists at the University of Bath in partnership with Polish tech firm Netrix, the innovative belt-like device wraps around the chest and uses ultrasound technology to produce high-resolution, real-time images of internal organs. Unlike CT scans that provide a single snapshot, this device delivers a dynamic stream of images over extended periods, offering clinicians a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health.

A major new study suggests that weight-loss injections could nearly halve the risk of cancers linked to obesity. Cancer specialists have hailed the research as “groundbreaking,” with the potential to usher in a “new era of preventive cancer medicine.” Obesity has been linked to 13 different types of cancer. Although losing weight is already known to lower cancer risk, scientists have found that weight-loss drugs offer additional protective benefits beyond simply reducing body weight. Researchers in Israel tracked 6,000 adults without a prior history of cancer, who either underwent bariatric surgery or used glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) such as liraglutide (Saxenda), exenatide (Byetta), or dulaglutide (Trulicity). These medications mimic the GLP-1 hormone, helping lower blood sugar and increasing feelings of fullness.

A woman from West London has become the first person in the UK to receive an innovative type of breast reconstruction surgery, saying the procedure has helped her "feel whole again." Tanya Tanna, 56, from South Ruislip, underwent the operation after being diagnosed with breast cancer and having a mastectomy. A group of London surgeons developed and carried out the minimally invasive keyhole procedure, which promotes faster recovery and lowers the risk of hernia. They described it as "a significant breakthrough in cancer surgery." "After this complex surgery, lasting eight hours, I was expecting a large amount of pain," said Tanya. Tanya said. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that 70% of its country offices are facing major disruptions to health services due to sudden reductions and suspensions in official development assistance (ODA) for healthcare. In a statement released on Friday, WHO expressed serious concern following a rapid assessment conducted between March and April 2025, involving 108 of its country offices. The survey, which primarily focused on low- and lower-middle-income nations, highlighted growing strain on global health systems. The organization warned that the impact of these disruptions could be long-lasting, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated global support to reinforce healthcare systems, particularly in vulnerable regions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a renewed warning about the alarming impact of air pollution, which it describes as the most significant environmental health threat of modern times. According to WHO estimates, air pollution causes around seven million premature deaths each year, contributing to chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and cardiovascular conditions. In a recent post on its official X account, the United Nations (UN) emphasized the serious health risks posed by air pollution, urging swift and decisive action to address the crisis.