- World Food Programme Pledges $2.5 billion to tackle poverty in Nigeria (African Health Report) – The World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director, David Stevenson, has said the organisation will commit $2.5 billion to strengthen and support Nigeria’s target for sustainable food security and zero hunger over a 5 year period. Read more here
2. 20th World Suicide Prevention Day: Why are Nigerians no longer happy? (African Health Report) – Nigerians used to be among the happiest people in the world, according to a 2003 research reported by BBC. In 2015, Nigerians were ranked the 2nd happiest people in Africa. However, a steady decline has been noted since 2016. Nigeria is now the 95th happiest nation in the world and sixth in Africa, according to the latest edition of the World Happiness Report, released in March 2023. Read more here
3. Nigeria’s Malaria Death dropped by 55% in 21 years (Premium Times) – WHO has said malaria incidence has fallen by 26 per cent since 2000, from 413 per 1000 to 302 per 1000 in 2021, while malaria deaths also fell by 55 per cent, from 2.1 per 1,000 population to 0.9 per 1,000 population. Read more here
4. Gavi Reiterates Commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s primary healthcare (African Health Report) – Nigeria has made progress in terms of vaccination and primary health care, Gavi notedm but stressed that there is a need for improvement, particularly to reduce preventable child mortality. Read more here
5. Indigent students risk dropping out as rising inflation hits higher institutions (The Cable) – Among the federal varsities that have raised their fees over the past months, apart from the University of Lagos, are the University of Maiduguri in Borno, the University of Benin in Edo, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto. Some of these institutions rolled out the hikes while their students were on break. Read more here
6. NDLEA Denies Poisoning MohBad (African Health Report) – In an exclusive interview with African Health Report Sunday, the Director of Media, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said the late musician was neither arrested nor given a white liquid to drink, stressing that the reports on the internet were fake. Read more here
7. FG sets up Task Force to Combat Diphtheria (African Health Report) – The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, announced that the task force will operate in an ’emergency mode’ to curb further spread of the disease to other states, as well as provide assistance to affected communities in the country. Read more here
8. Gates Foundation lists measures to prevent maternal mortality (Premium Times) – In its seventh annual Goalkeepers report, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has established that low-cost innovations can prevent millions of stillbirths and infant deaths in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Read more here
9. How Dental Problems Impacts Overall Health and Well Being (African Health Report) – The mouth serves as a gateway to the body, and several systemic diseases, such as Anaemia, Leukaemia, Diabetes mellitus, Osteoporosis, fluorosis, and even HIV infection, often present with oral manifestations. This underscores the importance of oral health extending beyond dental care. Read more here
10. ‘Not All Are Organic,’ Users Recount Ugly Encounter With ‘Natural’ Skin Care Products (African Health Report) – There is an increasing patronage of organic skin care products, which are loved by many Nigerians who believe they are safer to use than other processed products because they are often handcrafted in homes using ‘natural’ ingredients. In their relentless pursuit of beauty and radiant skin, they ignore what lies beneath the results they desire. Read here
