December 18 – 24, 2023
- 2024 Budget: Nigeria Increases Immunisation Fund but Yet to Release 2023 Allocation – Premium Times
A review of the 2024 budget, tagged ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’, shows that about N137 billion was allocated to immunisation programmes including counterpart funding, procurement of Routine Immunisation (RI) vaccines, devices, operational cost, and distribution among others. Read more
2. Tinubu Approves 50% Reduction in Transport Fare Nationwide – Punch Newspaper
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved a 50 per cent slash in price of interstate transport fare and free rides for commuters on all train services for Nigerians traveling during the yuletide from Thursday, December 21, 2023 to January 4, 2024. Read more
3. Yaba Psychiatric Hospital Records 100% Increase in Patient Admissions – Leadership Newspaper
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, has revealed a staggering surge in psychiatric patient admissions, marking a notable 100% increase in 2023. Read More
4. Nigerian Gov’t to Disburse N50bn to Upgrade, Expand PHCs – Premium Times
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate while speaking at the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, said the fund would be sourced from the Basic HealthCare Provision Fund (BHCPF). Read more.
5. NCDC Confirms Outbreak of Dengue Fever in Sokoto – Guardian
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of dengue fever in Sokoto State. Read more.
6. WHO Prequalifies R21 as Second Malaria Vaccine – Punch
The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine prequalified by the WHO, following the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine which obtained prequalification status in July 2022. Read more
7. NAFDAC Burst Large Haul of Fake Wines, Soft Drinks, Other Consumables – Vanguard
Operatives of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, have arrested a syndicate that specialises in the production of counterfeit wines, soft drinks and other consumables, in Eziukwu Market, in Aba, Abia State. Read more
8. Influential Figures Engaged in Nigeria’s Counterfeit Product Proliferation – FCCPC – African Health Report
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, has alleged that influential figures in Nigeria are responsible for the alarming rise of counterfeit products around the country. Read more
9. CBN Investigator Accuses Emefiele of Financial Offences, Redesigning Naira Without Approval – Channels Television
After more than four months of investigation, the Special Investigator probing the Central Bank of Nigeria, Jim Obazee, says former CBN Governor Mr Godwin Emefiele and others embezzled billions of naira and committed other gross financial offences. Read more.
10. Health Emergencies Rise as Shortage of Doctors Worsens Access to Treatment – African Health Report
When Ms Jumoke Olasunkanmi’s nephew was scheduled for an emergency surgery for ventricular septal defect (hole in the heart) sometime in July, 2022, little did they know that they would wait another seven months before they could get the services they desired. Read more