Health workers are to vaccinate at least 33 million children aged between nine months and five years against measles in a campaign starting this October, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced.

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands or face an indefinite strike. Mr Segun Sotiloye, the president of the UCH chapter of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), gave the strike notice at a press conference on Thursday in Ibadan.

The Nigerian government has released N35 billion to support the measles campaign coming up in n October, surveillance data shows that there was a steady increase in measles incidence among children, across the country. The Executive Secretary of Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib says prompt release of funds towards the 2017 measles campaign is an indication of commitment to save lives.

RESEARCHERS have found genetic mutations that affect whether a woman is likely to have her baby early or carry it to full term. Even late preterm babies, those born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation, are more likely to die or experience problems, even if they are the size and weight of some full-term infants born after 37 to 41 weeks in the womb.