Africa Health Report

Ekiti Trains Health Workers for Disease Outbreaks Health workers participate in disease outbreak response training in Ekiti State.

Ekiti Trains Health Workers for Disease Outbreaks

Edino Chubiyo Cornelius July 13, 2026

ADO EKITI, Nigeria – The Ekiti disease outbreak response receives a boost as the state government launches...

Jigawa, UNICEF Deepen Partnership on Child Welfare Governor Umar Namadi receives UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief Shafeeq Ur-Rehman during a meeting on strengthening child welfare programmes in Jigawa State.

Governor Umar Namadi receives UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief Shafeeq Ur-Rehman during a meeting on strengthening child welfare programmes in Jigawa State.

Jigawa, UNICEF Deepen Partnership on Child Welfare

Hussaini Ibrahim July 12, 2026

DUTSE, Nigeria – Jigawa UNICEF partnership is set to expand after Governor Umar Namadi called for stronger...

Zulum Donates N200m to Orthopaedic Hospital Governor Babagana Zulum during an inspection visit to the National Orthopaedic Hospital Azare.

Zulum Donates N200m to Orthopaedic Hospital

Hussaini Ibrahim July 12, 2026

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has approved an additional ₦200 million for the...

Academy Urges Action on Maternal Mortality Academy of Medical Sciences

Academy Urges Action on Maternal Mortality

Mirian Gom July 9, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria – The maternal mortality in Nigeria crisis remains unacceptable and requires urgent action alongside stronger...

El-Rufai’s Wife Warns of Healthcare Intimidation

Only 5% of Fevers Are Malaria LAGOS, Nigeria - Only five per cent of patients presenting with fever in Lagos are confirmed to have malaria, prompting the state government to overhaul its approach to diagnosing and treating febrile illnesses, Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi says. Speaking after a fever management session hosted by the World Bank Nigeria Country Office, Abayomi said findings from the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project show that routinely treating every fever as malaria is fuelling misdiagnosis, unnecessary drug use and antimicrobial resistance. The study assessed nearly 78,000 patients with fever across 392 health facilities, including community pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor outlets, making it Nigeria's largest field evaluation of malaria diagnosis. According to Abayomi, malaria was historically diagnosed in about 70 per cent of fever cases, but laboratory testing found the actual prevalence to be only five per cent. "For decades, fever has become synonymous with malaria in our communities. Today, the evidence tells a different story," he said. He said the findings were confirmed using World Health Organization-accredited malaria rapid diagnostic tests, validated through expert microscopy and polymerase chain reaction testing. The commissioner announced that Lagos has adopted quality-assured Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) as the first-line diagnostic tool for all suspected malaria cases. The state is also working with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to expand access to accredited malaria test kits in community pharmacies and medicine vendor outlets. Abayomi said Lagos has introduced a new fever management strategy built on the principle of "Test. Treat. Track." Under the approach, every patient with fever will receive laboratory testing before treatment begins, while confirmed malaria cases will trigger surveillance and environmental interventions to reduce transmission. He stressed that patients who test negative for malaria should be assessed for other illnesses, including dengue fever, Lassa fever, respiratory viral infections, bacterial diseases and inflammatory conditions. "Perhaps the most important message is this: A negative malaria test is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of finding the true cause of a patient's illness," Abayomi said.

El-Rufai’s Wife Warns of Healthcare Intimidation

Mirian Gom July 9, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria – Healthcare intimidation in Nigeria could deepen the country’s medical workforce crisis if doctors are...

Akwa Ibom Earns Global TB Recognition Health officials discuss Akwa Ibom's international tuberculosis award nomination.

Akwa Ibom Earns Global TB Recognition

Oluwafunbi Bello July 6, 2026

UYO, Nigeria – Akwa Ibom TB award nomination reflects years of sustained healthcare reforms, innovation and community-based...

Gombe Opens Obstetric Fistula Centre Deputy Governor Manassah Daniel Jatau commissions the Gombe Obstetric Fistula Centre in Deba.

Gombe Opens Obstetric Fistula Centre

Hussaini Ibrahim July 6, 2026

GOMBE, Nigeria – Gombe Obstetric Fistula Centre has been commissioned alongside a new Paediatric Stabilisation Centre at...

FG Rolls Out N10bn Maternal Healthcare Support Federal officials unveil medical equipment and ambulances during the launch of the ₦10 billion maternal healthcare support programme in Bauchi State.