Nigeria News

Borno State of Nigeria has been facing security challenges because of stiff insurgency, resulting into loss of lives and property, crippling economic, social as well as commercial activities. The health sector is not spared and it is on record that some health workers made the ultimate sacrifice during one of the insurgents’ attacks.  The negative fallout necessitated the postponement of the March 2013 Polio Immunization plus Days (IPDs) round by the State government.

Abuja, Nigeria 6th March, 2014 -- The synchronization of immunization activity which lasted from 1st to 4th March 2014 along border settlements between Nigeria and Republic of Niger has been concluded. The activity is widely adjudged as very successful. For instance, between Sokoto State in Nigeria and Tahoua Province in Republic of Niger, 15,137 under-five children were vaccinated on Nigeria side and 16,320 on the Republic of Niger side.

A 2-day pre-summit technical workshop for the preparation of the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the theme, ‘Universal Health Coverage, The Vehicle for sustainable Growth and Development’ has opened in Abuja.

Declaring the Workshop opened, the Honorable Minister of Health, Professor C.O Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that the theme of the workshop captures government’s belief in the centrality of a healthy population to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Malaria, Pneumonia and Diarrhea are still responsible for more than 50 percent of death among children under 5 years old in Nigeria. It is on record that majority of these children, particularly those living in hard to reach areas, die at home.

His Excellency President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has declared at the opening of the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Abuja on Monday, 10th March, 2014 that for the Universal Health Coverage to be a reality in Nigeria, health Insurance must be a compulsory policy.

The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu, has through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), hosted a 4-day Annual Review Meeting (ARM) of Malaria Programme managers from 17th – 20th March, with the theme; Sustaining the Push towards Malaria Elimination in Nigeria.

The World Health Organization has donated GeneXpert MTB/RIF machines, cartridges and other backup power accessories to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Honorable Minister of State for Health Dr. Khaliru Alhassan in order to facilitate early detection and control of tuberculosis (TB).

March 2014 - From more than 650 000 cases in 1988 to zero today, Nigeria has successfully stopped transmission of guinea-worm disease, also known as dracunculiasis. Thousands of volunteer polio vaccinators helped to check every household nationwide to ensure that there were no remaining cases before the country could be certified free of guinea-worm disease in December 2013.

Since the beginning of the year 2014, Kebbi State in North Western Nigeria has been experiencing an outbreak of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM). Laboratory tests have shown that the Neisseria meningitides Type C serogroup is circulating. As of week 12, 2014, a total of 288 cases reported with 43 death (Case Fatality Rate, CFR=14.9); 36 cases have been confirmed positive, notably in Jega, Aliero, Gwandu, Augie, Suru and Zuru LGAs.