Browsing: Health

The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has highlighted the significance of collaboration in confronting healthcare obstacles and empowering communities during her inaugural appearance at the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit. Speaking at the MFFLI summit in Dubai, Tinubu praised the Merck Foundation for its endeavors in enhancing healthcare competence and fostering social advancement throughout Africa and Asia, acknowledging their influence in Nigeria. Reiterating Nigeria’s pledge to promote healthcare and education, Tinubu stated: “I am privileged to stand with my esteemed counterparts, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, in advocating for the ‘More Than a Mother’ initiative. This program tackles essential matters such as the stigma of infertility and empowers women. I extend my gratitude to the Merck Foundation for their visionary guidance and congratulate them on their 8th anniversary.” The First Lady disclosed that 63 Nigerian physicians have profited from scholarships through various Merck Foundation initiatives. These scholarships encompass training in fertility care, diabetes management, cardiology, psychiatry, and other underrepresented fields. “After completing their training, these doctors will set up clinics within their communities to offer vital healthcare services. This is a crucial measure toward enhancing public health results in Nigeria, and I am dedicated to expanding this program through my office and the Ministry of Health,” she asserted. Tinubu also underscored initiatives to combat diabetes in Nigeria via the Diabetes Blue Program, under which 39 Nigerian doctors have received advanced training. Moreover, 16 doctors have been educated in areas such as acute medicine, respiratory care, and critical care. Beyond healthcare, Tinubu emphasized her commitment to education, especially for girls. She commended the Merck Foundation’s Educating Linda initiative, which supports underprivileged girls, aligning with her Renewed Hope Initiative that focuses on girl-child education. “Education is the foundation of progress. Through partnerships with the African Union Development Agency, we have facilitated scholarships and established 40 alternative high schools for girls who had to leave due to early marriage or pregnancy. These schools offer a second opportunity for these young women to realize their aspirations.” She expressed hope in fortifying partnerships with the Merck Foundation, especially in combating gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and health concerns like hypertension and infertility stigma. Earlier, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, commended the First Ladies’ dedication to healthcare and social development. He remarked: “This summit epitomizes what we can accomplish together. Our initiatives, including the scholarship program, are transforming healthcare in underserved areas by cultivating a new generation of specialists.” He acknowledged that the scarcity of financial resources is not the sole issue faced by Africa, but the lack of trained healthcare professionals capable of effectively preventing, diagnosing, and managing diseases. He lamented that the widespread deficiency of medical and healthcare personnel has become one of the most significant obstacles to accessing quality healthcare across the continent and globally. He asserted that the foundation, in collaboration with partners, has greatly enhanced healthcare capacity by offering over 2270 scholarships for one and two-year master degrees to further qualify doctors from 52 countries across 44 vital and underserved medical specialties. In her welcoming address, Dr. Rasha Kalej, CEO of the Merck Foundation, stated that their initiatives to bolster healthcare systems have directly improved the lives of millions. “Our scholarships in over 44 critical specialties are addressing Africa’s acute shortage of medical specialists, and we take pride in the substantial impact this has achieved,” she emphasized. “We provided nearly 1000 scholarships for girls in more than 17 countries in collaboration with the First Lady.” She highlighted that the summit exemplified the power of collaboration in addressing urgent health and social issues.

The Edo State Government has announced the initiation of necessary measures to combat the ongoing diphtheria outbreak, which has unanticipatedly impacted individuals who were previously vaccinated, including adults. This incident has reportedly resulted in two fatalities at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). According to a statement from Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, part of the measures involves the acquisition of life-saving vaccines for a statewide vaccination initiative aimed at protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children. Hospitals have been placed on high alert, and intervention agencies such as WHO, UNICEF, and others have been notified. The statement also indicated that schools were informed to educate their pupils and students about maintaining proper hygiene while urging the public to remain calm. A segment of the statement noted, “His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, has initiated an emergency public health response, mobilizing all essential resources and expertise to control the situation and protect the health of the populace. “Demonstrating strong leadership, Governor Okpebholo is personally overseeing surveillance and monitoring operations, collaborating closely with the State Ministry of Health and other vital stakeholders to ensure prompt and effective containment of the disease. “Key actions currently in progress include the acquisition of life-saving vaccines to launch an immediate statewide vaccination campaign aimed at vulnerable groups, especially children. The government is also enhancing public awareness efforts through various channels—radio, television, community outreach, and social media—to inform citizens about the symptoms of diphtheria, preventive actions, and the necessity of early treatment. “Hospitals across the State have been placed on heightened alert and instructed to enhance case identification, immediate isolation, and proper clinical management of suspected cases in alignment with national and international guidelines. “Medical staff are being briefed and equipped to respond effectively, while the State’s disease surveillance network is being broadened to quickly trace and track potential contacts.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced an increase in the mortality rate of Lassa fever as the illness continues to proliferate across various states, accompanied by newly confirmed cases and additional fatalities. This information was provided by the NCDC in its most recent situation report for Epidemiological Week 23, spanning June 2–8, 2025, which was shared on its official website on Wednesday. As per the agency, Nigeria has recorded 143 fatalities from 758 confirmed Lassa fever cases since the beginning of this year. This represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.9 percent, an increase from the 17.8 percent documented during the corresponding period in 2024. The NCDC also indicated that 11 new confirmed cases surfaced in the week under review, rising from the eight cases noted the previous week. The new cases were identified in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, and Taraba States. “In 2025, 18 states have reported at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever, distributed across 96 Local Government Areas. However, 90 percent of all confirmed cases originated from just five states: Ondo 31 percent, Bauchi 25 percent, Edo 16 percent, Taraba 15 percent, and Ebonyi 3 percent,” the report highlighted. The agency recognized that the age group most impacted continues to be young adults aged 21 to 30 years, with a median age of 30. It additionally reported one new infection among healthcare workers during the reporting week, raising the total number of affected health workers in 2025 to 23. The NCDC pointed out various challenges exacerbating the outbreak, including delayed case presentation, inadequate health-seeking behavior, high treatment costs, poor sanitation, and limited awareness within affected communities. To mitigate the spread and decrease fatalities, the agency stated that it had activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System and deployed 10 Rapid Response Teams to states experiencing the highest burden. Further response measures comprised training health workers on case management, launching an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) e-learning platform, conducting community awareness campaigns, implementing environmental response actions, and executing media outreach in partnership with stakeholders. The NCDC urged Nigerians to uphold strict hygiene practices, seek medical attention promptly when symptomatic, and refrain from contact with rodents and their excrement, known carriers of the disease. It’s important to note that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or feces of infected rats.