Health

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) after a virtually held National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on 15th May 2023, declared a five-day warning strike following the failure of the Federal Government to meet her demand. The five-day strike commences on Wednesday, May 17, and ends on Monday, May 22. Recall, On April 29, 2023, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the agreements or face industrial action of which the ultimatum elapsed on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said mpox is no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Director-General of the agency, Tedros Ghebreyesus, made the declaration following a recommendation by the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee at its fifth meeting on Friday, May 12. Mpox is a less severe cousin of the now-eradicated smallpox virus. It is endemic to parts of West and Central Africa and has typically been contracted from a rodent or small mammal. The virus can spread through contact with body fluids, sores or items such as clothing and bedding contaminated with the virus. Also, it can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, typically in a close setting.

Contrary to the news making rounds online that indomie noodles have been banned by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the agency has come out to debunk the news of ever placing a ban on the product, assuring consumers not to fret as the product is safe for consumption. Despite the scare the Director-General/Chairperson, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has requested the public who consume the product to go ahead with its consumption “NAFDAC did not ban Indomie,” Professor Adeyeye said yesterday. Indomie has been on the government prohibition list for many years to encourage local manufacturing.”

The World Health Organization has said that a batch of contaminated India-made cough syrup has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. The WHO said that the tested samples of Guaifenesin TG syrup, made by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem Ltd, showed "unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol”. Both compounds are toxic to humans and could be fatal if consumed. The drug was brought to WHO’s attention earlier in April.  This marks the latest in a series of medicines manufactured by India-based pharmaceutical firms and distributed in different countries that are alleged to be of poor quality and potentially harmful to consume. WHO however has to specifically say if any deaths or injuries were linked to Guaifenesin.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), has granted approval for the R21/Matrix Malaria Vaccine (Recombinant, Adjuvanted) developed by scientists at Oxford University. Nigeria became the second country to approve of the use of the vaccine after Ghana's approval, which is adjudged to be 80 percent effective. The only vaccine previously endorsed for malaria by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is the RTS, S/AS01 (RTS,S) vaccine which is 29 percent effective in preventing severe malaria. The Director-General of NAFDAC Mojisola Adeyeye made this revelation on 17th April 2023 at a press briefing “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 is granting registration approval for R21 malaria vaccine”

The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has revealed it has placed a restriction on the "active" recruitment of health and social care workers from Nigeria and 53 other countries by its public and private healthcare organizations. This development is coming one month after the World Health Organization (WHO) identified 55 countries, including Nigeria, as being more challenged as it concerns Universal Health Coverage. Nigeria has always been on the WHO’s Health Workforce Support and Safeguards list which is graded red but what is new is the UK’s renewed effort to adhere to the global body’s advice.