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The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Ekiti State, has urged President Bola Tinubu to implement import duty and value-added tax (VAT) waivers on drugs and other medical consumables to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Nigerians. In a communique issued after its 27th annual general meeting, the NMA also urged the President to implement the newly increased capitation rates of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, and to strengthen the scheme to ensure broader coverage for Nigerians in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage. Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti over the weekend, its newly elected state chairman, Dr. Oreyemi Ifedayo, stated that such a policy would not only help reduce the spate of sudden deaths among Nigerians but also create a more conducive environment for health practitioners in the country.

In its 2024 Global AIDS Report, "The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads," the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) outlined intentions to exterminate HIV/AIDS by 2030. UNAIDS stated that in order to attain the objective of eradicating AIDS as a public health concern, Nigeria and other low- and middle-income nations must see an increase in yearly investments in HIV interventions.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has called on the general public to avoid the consumption of smuggled frozen poultry products due to health implications from experts. The command’s Comptroller, Mr James Ojo, gave the warning during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today in Ota, Ogun state.

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have pledged to intensify efforts to combat growing malnutrition and polio in Nigeria. At a meeting in Lagos, the collaboration was reinforced by Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME), as the three organisations vowed to leverage their expertise and influence to protect children. UNICEF’s Nutrition Manager, Prosper Dakurah, noted the need for states to provide counterpart funding to access Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). This fund is crucial in the fight against malnutrition, which threatens approximately nine million children under five years in Nigeria. “Without urgent action in 2024, UNICEF estimates approximately nine million children under five years will suffer from moderate and acute malnutrition,” Dakurah warned. CNF is a financing mechanism to support sustainable policies, programmes and supplies to end child wasting. It is tailored to assist government-led efforts in countries with highest rates of child malnutrition. Dakurah noted while some states: Katsina, Jigawa and Plateau have committed funding: Adamawa, Ebonyi and Gombe are yet to do so. He urged these states to expedite their contributions, emphasising UNICEF would match any state’s counterpart fund. “You pay one dollar, you get additional dollar from CNF,” he said.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 46 facilities in 10 states of the federation for various forms of environmental violations. According to a statement signed by Assistant Director, Press, Amaka Ejiofor, the enforcement exercise was carried out in Borno, Gombe, Ogun, Enugu, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba States. The facilities were shut down for refusing to comply with the provisions of the National Environmental Regulations. The offences include Violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, lack of an Environmental Audit Report, and failure to develop and implement an Environmental Management Plan.

The Federal government has warned that the increasing level of flooding and continuous rainfall may worsen the spread of cholera in the country. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Terlumum stated this while addressing a press conference on Thursday. According to him, a total of 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases have already been recorded as of Wednesday, July 3 2024 since the outbreak of the epidemic. This was in reaction to the flash flood caused by the incessant rainfalls experienced throughout the states and the nation’s capital, Abuja. Terlumum said the flood incidents recorded so far were flash/urban floods, resulting from high rainfall intensities of long and poor blocked drainage systems in the urban areas.