Health

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has disclosed that Nigeria accounts for about 66 percent of cases of sickle cell anemia babies born annually in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Minister made this known yesterday in Abuja during the national dialogue on a better life for persons living with sickle cell disorders organized by the SOM Sickle Cell Foundation in collaboration with the Yakubu Gowon Centre. While quoting from the World Health Organisation, WHO report, Dr. Ehanire said over 300,000 babies are born globally with sickle cell disorder where Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 75% of the cases.

Following the outbreak of monkeypox that has continued unabated, Nigerian Custom Area Controller, CAC of Federal Operation Unit, FOU, Zone A, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Hussein Ejubunu has warned the general public about patronizing smuggled used clothes. The Custom boss stated this in Lagos during a press briefing reminding the general public that expert in the health sector has linked the possibility of transmission of the disease through an exchange of clothing. Therefore, he disclosed that smuggling of such contraband has implications on our economy apart from our health, consequently warning the general public of the danger of buying smuggled used clothes.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has disclosed that Nigeria has recorded 961 suspected Cerebrospinal Meningitis, CSM, cases and has so far recorded 56 deaths in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja this year. Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa stated this yesterday in a report, but however, said his office in collaboration with some partner in health are working hard to improve the surveillance as they consider the cases being underreported. He revealed that his office has also executed some strategic prevention and control activities to strengthen their level o preparedness detection and response to the killer disease.

The House of Representatives has warned the Federal Government that unless preventive measures are adopted, a fresh Ebola outbreak may be expected soon. The lawmakers raised the alarm today during a plenary after adopting a unanimous motion moved by, Dachung Bagos, who noted that the cases of fresh ebola outbreaks being recorded are one out of too many incidents that cannot be ignored. The motion titled, ‘Motion of Urgent Public Importance on the Need for Federal Government to Activate Response against the Possible Detection of Ebola in Nigeria.’

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has revealed that the trial vaccine for the COVID-19 its organization sponsored is now ready for its clinical trial by end of this year, specifically by November. The project the commission said was a research grant tagged Accelerated Development of COVID-19 Vaccines Using Innovative Technological Approach’ is a collaborative effort involving cluster researchers from five different institutions to consolidate problem-solving research and promote innovation in Nigeria.

The Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, Mohammed Nasir Sambo says about 83 million Nigerians are estimated to benefit from the newly introduced compulsory health insurance law that was recently assented into law as National Health Insurance Authority Act, NHIA Act, by President Buhari. The statement was disclosed by the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mohammed Nasir Sambo during a one-day news conference/workshop for health reporters on NHIA Act in Abuja yesterday.