Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has called on organized private sector to also be part of the fight against malaria in Nigeria stressing that the sector plays an integral role in eliminating the terrible disease.

Certainly, companies have been successful in shaping malaria policies; impacting communities via workplace initiatives, product and service innovations, advocacy, research and investment.

The Minister gave this charge yesterday in Lagos at a forum organized by Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) as part of programs to mark the world malaria day.

Elated scientists announced Wednesday the completion of a 20-year quest to map the complex enzyme thought to forestall ageing by repairing the tips of chromosomes in plants and animals, including humans. Decoding the architecture of the enzyme, called telomerase, could lead to drugs that slow or block the ageing process, along with new treatments for cancer, they reported in the journal Nature.

A U.S study recently published online has revealed that people who miss out on eating breakfast are more likely to gain weight and have larger waists.

The study, titled “Frequency of Breakfast Consumption, Obesity and Weight Gain” led by Kevin Smith from Mayo Clinic in the U. S., reveals that, 26.7 per cent of people who skipped breakfast were obese, compared with 10.9 per cent of those who ate it frequently.

The United Nations (UN) has pledged to support Nigeria on implementing its ageing policy. The policy framework is intended to inform discussion and the formulation of action plans that promote healthy and active ageing. Mr Oleg Serezhin of the Technical Cooperation Unit, Division for Social Policy and Development of Economic and Social Affairs, UN, said that the global body was committed to bringing its resources to support Nigeria on ageing.

Nigerian officials are partnering with their counterparts in South Africa to brainstorm on water management. The meeting, which got underway in the penultimate week, follows the request from the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) to undertake a technical study tour of South Africa to share water regulatory best practices.