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The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email. On Wednesday last week during a routine test, Nigeria's regulator recalled a batch of Benylin syrup, having found a high level of diethylene glycol in the product. Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can result in acute kidney failure, although there have been no reports of harm in the latest incident. The contaminant, alongside another closely related toxin, has been linked to the deaths of more than 300 children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Cameroon since 2022. However, there is no evidence that these incidents are linked to the new recalls.

In an effort to address the rising number of cancer cases in Nigeria, the Federal Government (FG) has announced plans to launch a comprehensive national cancer registry and data system. This was revealed by the Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr. Usman Aliyu during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Saturday. He said a centralized cancer registry is necessary, adding that lack of funding from government and private health centres has impeded its establishment.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned the general public about the cough syrup, Benylin Pediatrics Syrup manufactured by Johnson & Johnson with batch number 329304 and manufactured in May 2021 due to expire this month, April 2024. The cough syrup was found to contain unacceptably high level of Diethylene glycol and caused acute oral toxicity in laboratory animals. In an effort to halt its circulation, the agency has recalled the product, which is a vital method of managing risks associated with an unhealthy/faulty product.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in its weather prediction alert, warns of impending heat stroke in Abuja, Kano, and many other northern states due to the scorching heat waves. Heat stroke, also known as sunstroke, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is unable to control its temperature. According to the meteorological agency, on Saturday 6th April, residents of these states might suffer extreme heat, which would make them prone to heat-induced conditions. It notes that Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, and Kogi states were categorized under Extreme Danger, and residents were advised to take precautionary steps as they were likely to experience heat or sunstroke. Some other states in this category are Kebbi, Katsina, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Niger, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Benue, and Kwara.

A study has revealed that the number of new prostate cancer cases across the globe will more than double over the next two decades as poorer countries catch up with the aging of richer countries. Researchers behind the Lancet study published on Friday said the rise in cases is linked to the increased life expectancy and changes in the age pyramid around the world. “Our findings suggest that the number of new cases annually will rise from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040,” said the medical journal, based on a study of demographic changes. As life expectancy improves in developing countries, the number of prostate cancer cases also increases, the researchers said.

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it would complete the construction of six new cancer centres within the country in the next two years. This development was made known during a TV interview with Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.