The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health alert on the likely spike in cases of cholera during the forthcoming rainy season, with 134 Local Government Areas classified as hotspots that have been prioritized for multi-sectoral intervention, including potential Rapid Response Team deployment.
Malawi's health officials have identified a sixth case of Mpox, heightening concerns over an outbreak that began just two weeks ago. A situational report issued on May 1 by the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) confirmed the latest case, an 18-year-old male student from Area 36, Tumbwe, in Lilongwe District. The student sought medical attention at Bwaila Hospital on April 30 after presenting with typical Mpox symptoms, including fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a distinctive skin rash. Laboratory analysis subsequently verified the infection. Although the patient had not traveled recently, he had close contact with a previously confirmed case, underscoring ongoing local transmission. This newest infection raises the country’s total to six, all recorded in Lilongwe, a concerning indication of possible community spread in Malawi’s most densely populated urban area. Mpox, formerly referred to as monkeypox, is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, closely related to the virus responsible for smallpox. Transmission mainly occurs through direct physical contact with infected individuals, animals, or contaminated materials like clothing and bedding.
In a major step toward tackling HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) have formalized their collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership is focused on strengthening HIV prevention strategies, minimizing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and eradicating the stigma faced by people living with HIV nationwide.
As Nigeria joins other African nations in observing African Vaccination Week 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over persistently low vaccination rates across the continent. According to WHO one out of every five children in Africa remains under-vaccinated. In a statement marking the annual event celebrated from April 24 to 30 alongside World Immunization Week Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO’s Acting Regional Director for Africa, called on African leaders to step up their commitment to improving vaccine access.
Technology expert Akin Ibitoye has advised Nigerians to be mindful of the time they spend on screens, warning that excessive use of phones and laptops can strain the eyes and negatively affect sleep. During an interview on The Morning Brief aired Monday on Channels Television, Ibitoye emphasized that prolonged exposure to screens leads to eye discomfort over time if not properly managed. “The longer you stare at screens, the more pressure you put on your eyes,” he said. “There are steps we can take to protect our eye health.”
The Nigerian government through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that no fewer than 16,000 medical doctors have left the country to practice their profession abroad in the last five to seven years. Pate made this known yesterday in Abuja during the annual capacity-building workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), and hosted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
