Tanzania has confirmed its first-ever cases of Marburg Virus Disease, after laboratory tests were carried out following reports of cases and deaths in the country’s north-west Kagera region. According to the country’s National Public Health Laboratory, eight people developed symptoms including fever, vomiting, bleeding and renal failure. Five of the eight cases, including a health […] The post Tanzania confirms first-ever cases of Marburg Virus Disease appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its latest progress report on the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) entitled “Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2023.” The report highlights the progress and challenges of delivering NTD care around the world, against a backdrop of COVID-19-related disruptions. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, says, “Around […] The post Neglected Tropical Diseases: Progress Made, but Challenges Remain appeared first on healthnews.ng.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has called for continued innovation and urgency in ensuring that proven HIV prevention and treatment options reach all those in need, following the discontinuation of the Mosaico HIV vaccine trial. The trial, which began in 2019 as a partnership between the US National Institute of Allergy and […] The post The world can still end AIDS by 2030 appeared first on healthnews.ng.

According to a new status report from the World Health Organization (WHO), five billion people globally remain unprotected from harmful trans fat, increasing their risk of heart disease and death. Despite the global goal for its total elimination in 2023, progress towards this target has been slow, with only 43 countries having implemented best-practice policies […] The post Africa Lags Behind in Trans Fat Elimination Efforts, says WHO Report appeared first on healthnews.ng.

The Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Lagos, Nigeria has achieved full laboratory accreditation status from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its contribution to the fight against measles and rubella in the country. The CPHL is one of the laboratories under the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Measles and Rubella laboratory network. “WHO […] The post Laboratory in Lagos bags WHO’s full accreditation for measles and rubella appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Five United Nations agencies are calling for accelerated progress on the Global Action Plan on Child Wasting, as increasing numbers of children suffer from acute malnutrition in the face of ongoing conflicts, climate shocks, and the impacts of COVID-19. Currently, more than 30 million children in the 15 worst-affected countries, including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, […] The post Alarm sounded on Rising Child Malnutrition Amidst Conflicts, Climate Shocks and COVID-19 appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari recently signed the country mental health bill into law. Described as groundbreaking, the new law aims, among others, to improve access to mental health care and services in Nigeria. The mental health bill aims to improve access to care and services for people with mental health issues. The bill, which has […] The post What you need to know about Nigeria’s new mental health law appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Despite the large number of lives threatened by unsafe practices, abortion remains a highly controversial issue in Nigeria, where it is mostly illegal except to save the life of the mother. Despite the restrictive laws, however, unsafe abortions continue to be a major public health concern in the country, with an estimated 3.5 million induced […] The post The uphill battle for safe abortion in Nigeria appeared first on healthnews.ng.

An estimated 7 million children in Africa died before their fifth birthday, according to the latest estimates released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The group also found that 1.9 million babies were stillborn in the same period. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with equitable access […] The post 7 Million Children in Africa Died Before Fifth Birthday Due to Lack of Access to Health Care appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Health authorities in Uganda have admitted that even though the country’s latest Ebola outbreak is over, the source of the outbreak still remains unknown. In her remarks at the event marking the official declaration of the end of the outbreak, Dr. Aceng Jane Ruth Ocero, Uganda’s Minister for Health, said the health ministry is working […] The post Source of Ebola outbreak remains unknown as Uganda declares victory appeared first on healthnews.ng.

The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged countries to increase their COVID-19 sequencing efforts and share data with the global community in order to detect and track the emergence and spread of new variants. The Director-General stated that despite the progress made in the fight against the pandemic, such as the development […] The post COVID-19: Sequencing has dropped by over 90% since Omicron appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Uganda has declared the end of an Ebola outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus, just four months after the first case was confirmed in the country’s central Mubende district on September 20, 2022. The country’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Acero, praised the swift response to the outbreak, which included surveillance, contact tracing, and […] The post Ebola outbreak officially over in Uganda appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Buhari signs mental health bill into law. How NHIA Act will set pace for robust health insurance in Nigeria. New COVID-19 variants not in Nigeria, says NCDC. Looking ahead in 2023: Rekindling hope in Nigeria’s Health Sector. Six states account for 84% cholera cases – NCDC. NARD demands CMDs’ sanction over attacks on workers. NAFDAC […] The post Top Ten News Items on Health, 24th December 2022 appeared first on Nigeria Health Watch.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a statement in The Lancet Public Health stating that there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health. Alcohol, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common types […] The post No level of alcohol consumption is safe for health – WHO appeared first on healthnews.ng.

Every year, at the National Council on Health (NCH), health leaders across Nigeria congregate to deliberate and approve policies aimed at improving the health of all Nigerians. The NCH, legislated through the National Health Act 2014 remains the highest decision-making body on matters relating to health in Nigeria. The 63rd NCH which kicked off on […] The post From ‘Stalled’ to ‘Transiting’: Activating Nigeria’s Demographic Dividend appeared first on Nigeria Health Watch.

The start of a new year comes with fresh expectations, hopes, and dreams. In 2018, Nigeria Health Watch hosted its inaugural Future of Health Conference with the theme “Defining the Health Sector of Our Dreams in Nigeria.” The newly elected President Muhammadu Buhari had just been sworn in to begin his first four-year term. This […] The post Looking Ahead In 2023 – Rekindling Hope in Nigeria’s Health Sector appeared first on Nigeria Health Watch.

FG introduces N10 per litre excise duty on carbonated drinks to curb non-communicable diseases. How to improve health outcomes in Nigeria, by Osinbajo, Mustapha, others. Buhari signs National Health Authority Bill into law. President orders minister to submit progress report on vaccine production. Monkeypox Outbreak Tops 1,000 Cases, WHO Warns Of ‘Real’ Risk. WHO: COVID-19 […] The post Top Ten News Items on Health, 30th December 2022 appeared first on Nigeria Health Watch.

The resilience of the health sector was tested when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted global economies and health sectors simultaneously in 2020. Routine health programmes in Nigeria, such as childhood immunisation, reproductive health and maternal health services were disrupted, and it was clear that our health systems were not resilient enough to protect us from major […] The post Reflecting on Nigeria’s Health Sector in 2022: Hope For 2023? appeared first on Nigeria Health Watch.

The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly states that complete emotional and mental well-being are critical components of good health care. Efforts to improve access to mental health services continue to generate global attention as an estimated one in eight people lived with a mental disorder before the COVID-19 pandemic. While mental health continues to gain […] The post Jela’s Development Initiatives: Promoting Inclusiveness in Mental Health Interventions appeared first on Nigeria Health Watch.