Lagos to enforce mandatory health insurance from January 2027
The Lagos State Government has given employers, workers and residents until December 31, 2026, to comply with mandatory health insurance, warning that enforcement will begin on January 1, 2027. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this on Tuesday during the launch of the Lagos Private Health Plan (LPHP) Partnership at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, where…
Severe malaria linked to long-term cognitive, academic challenges in children
Photo: Dr. Paul Bangirana of Makerere University Severe malaria may affect children’s cognitive abilities and academic performance for years after recovery, with survivors recording lower overall cognitive ability and mathematics scores than children who did not experience the disease, a 2026 study has found. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association…
How patients risk contracting new infections in hospitals
…Poor hygiene, untrained cleaners undermine infection control Patients seeking treatment in private or public hospitals risk contracting additional infections because of poor hygiene, inadequate infection prevention measures and the deployment of untrained cleaners and support staff, a medical research scientist, Dr Cashmir Ifeanyi, has warned. Ifeanyi said patients could develop infections they did not have…
NAFDAC probes death of NYSC member, suspects kidney injury from dehydration
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun investigating the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, following allegations that substandard or falsified medicines caused his death. The agency said preliminary findings suggested that the corps member died from acute…
Africa short of 5.5m health workers, 1m trained professionals jobless
More than one million trained health professionals across Africa are without meaningful employment despite a continent-wide shortage of 5.5 million health workers, highlighting a widening gap between health-sector needs, training and employment opportunities for young professionals. The figures, cited at the Ubuntu Rising 2026 gathering in Cape Town, South Africa, have prompted more than 80…
Will fortified seasoning cubes curb or worsen Nigeria’s hypertension crisis?
Sodium cubes Nigeria is facing a rising prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases linked to excessive salt consumption, which it is combating through the National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction. But the country is also in a micronutrients deficiency crisis, which it aims to tackle through fortified bouillon cubes. The problem? These cubes are often excessively…
Lagos TB samples pile up as GeneXpert machines run short of testing cartridges
Tuberculosis (TB) samples are piling up in some health facilities in Lagos due to shortages of diagnostic cartridges needed to process specimens, raising concerns about delays in detecting and treating the disease. The Lagos State Advocacy Team on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) said some laboratories could not process samples collected from people suspected of…
Why 30% of women in Togo turn to hairdressers for emotional support
Photo caption: Manuela Siakou, Heal by Hair ambassador, Lomé, 2026. A study has found that 30 per cent of women surveyed in Togo turn to their hairdressers first when facing personal difficulties, while fewer than one per cent approach health professionals initially, highlighting the role of trusted community relationships in mental health support. The findings…
Lagos converts former COVID-19 isolation centre to pharmacy training facility
Lagos State has converted the former CACOVID COVID-19 isolation centre at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, into a training facility for pharmacy students as part of efforts to address the shortage of healthcare professionals. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this on Monday in a post on his X handle, saying the…
Nigeria: 45% of women make fewer than four antenatal visits – Study
Forty-five per cent of women giving birth in Nigeria make fewer than four antenatal care visits, while 51 per cent do not deliver in a health facility, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute. The figures were contained in the institute’s Adding It Up 2024: Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income…