Category: Health

The Lagos State Government has unveiled two new health insurance packages designed to provide affordable healthcare coverage to Nigerians in the diaspora and visitors.

The plans, Ilera-Eko Waka-Well and Ilera-Eko Home Konnect, aim to bridge the healthcare gap for Nigerians living abroad and those visiting the state.

 

According to reports, over 20 million Nigerians living abroad could benefit from these plans. The Ilera-Eko Home Konnect plan allows Nigerians abroad to pay health insurance premiums for their families back home, covering general and specialist consultations, physiotherapy, chronic disease management, surgeries, blood transfusion, maternal care, newborn services, and annual wellness checks.

 

The plan is expected to provide peace of mind for Nigerians living abroad, knowing that their loved ones have access to quality healthcare.

With these new packages, the Lagos State Government is taking a significant step towards improving healthcare outcomes for its citizens, both at home and abroad.

The Kano State Government has proposed more than N40 billion for the health sector in the 2026 fiscal year, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, has said.

Labaran disclosed this in Kano on Monday while defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget before the State House of Assembly Committee on Health.

He said the allocation was designed to consolidate ongoing reforms and strengthen healthcare delivery across the 44 local government areas of the state.

According to him, the ministry will from next week begin the recruitment of over 2,600 new health workers to address manpower gaps in hospitals and primary healthcare centres.

He said that the planned recruitment would cover Medical Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Environmental Health Officers, Laboratory Scientists and other critical cadres needed to enhance service delivery.

Labaran said priority in the 2026 budget had been given to the renovation of health facilities and the provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment to upgrade service capacity, reduce patient waiting time and improve emergency response.

“We are committed to rebuilding our hospitals and equipping them with modern technology that will ensure quality and efficient healthcare services for the people of Kano State,” he said.

The commissioner commended Gov. Abba Yusuf, for what he described as sustained investment and unwavering attention to the health needs of citizens.

He said that the governor’s support had enabled the ministry to pursue key reforms aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes, addressing disease outbreaks and supporting community-level health programmes.

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Africa is grappling with increasing public health threats amid overstretched resources and persistent gaps in preparedness, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.

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Prof. Yap Boum, Incident Manager for Health Emergencies at Africa CDC, gave the alert during the agency’s weekly virtual press briefing.

He gave the alert as the CDC released data showing rising outbreaks of cholera, Mpox and Marburg virus across the continent.

Boum noted that Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda provided a roadmap to strengthen preparedness, expand local manufacturing and invest in digital and financing systems for long-term resilience.

“Progress requires shared commitment, with Africa leading and partners aligning, to build a more secure and sovereign health future for the continent,” he said.

He said that accelerating local drug production was crucial to reducing dependency and building a resilient health ecosystem.

He also announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had declared the end of its 16th Ebola outbreak centred in Kasai Province and first reported on Sept. 4.

He said that Africa CDC joined Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka in marking the milestone, and commended the DRC Government, the country’s Ministry of Health and field teams for coordinated response.

“This success is the result of exceptional determination and exemplary coordination,” he said.

Data for epidemiological weeks one to 47 of 2025 shows a rising disease burden across the continent.

Boum said there were 132,442 suspected cases of Mpox and 40,218 confirmed cases resulting in 953 deaths.

There were 301,561 suspected Cholera cases, 10,057 confirmed cases causing 7,187 deaths, according to him.

“Measles affected 140,217 people, with 11,674 confirmed cases causing 1,243 deaths, while Dengue fever recorded 52,155 suspected cases, 6,062 confirmed cases, and 139 deaths.

“Lassa fever recorded 8,791 suspected cases, 1,023 confirmed cases, and 192 deaths,” he said.

He said that the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and the country’s Public Health Institute confirmed Marburg virus outbreak in Jinka Town on Nov. 14.

“As of Dec. 3, 13 cases had been confirmed with eight deaths, and 530 samples were tested in week 49 alone.

“Rapid response teams have been deployed with contact tracing, active case search and surveillance at points of entry ongoing.

“South Sudan has also activated its Emergency Operations Centre.

“Mpox continues to pose a major public health challenge, with Liberia, DRC, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Guinea accounting for 81 per cent of confirmed cases over the last six weeks,” he said.

According to him, transmission is declining in many countries, with Sierra Leone reporting 36 days without a confirmed case.

“Africa CDC continues support in countries where transmission persists, including Kenya, Guinea, Liberia and Ghana.”

He said Cholera remained a significant threat, with 311,618 cases and 7,187 deaths reported across 25 African countries in 2025.

According to him, Sudan, DRC, South Sudan and Angola accounted for 85 per cent of all cholera-related deaths.

“Notable outbreaks include Namibia (13 cases, one death), Burundi (cases concentrated in northwestern provinces due to poor access to safe water).

“Angola (152 municipalities affected; over 3.57 million people vaccinated with oral cholera vaccines), DRC (65,541 cases in conflict-hit eastern provinces), and Kenya (cases reduced after intensive vaccination campaigns),” he said.

On Mpox vaccination, he said 18 countries had regulatory approval for the MVA-BN vaccine, with two countries extending vaccination to children under 12.

“A total of 4.88 million doses has been delivered to 16 countries, and 1.91 million people have received at least one dose.

“Mozambique recently rolled out vaccination with health worker trainings in hotspot districts, while new shipments to Kenya and Liberia are expected in early December,” he said.

Boum emphasised the need for long-term investment in preparedness, including domestic health financing, laboratory and manufacturing capacity, early warning systems, and protection for frontline health workers.

“Africa must lead its health security future. Sovereignty begins with preparedness,” he said.

... Inaugurates Upgraded General Hospital

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has challenged health workers in the state to make the best use of modern equipment provided across government hospitals to deliver healthcare with compassion and uphold the highest level of professional standards.

Governor Oyebanji gave the challenge at the inauguration of the newly renovated and equiped General Hospital, Ifaki Ekiti in commemoration of the third anniversary of his administration.

Oyebanji said his government remained committed more than ever to keep raising the standard of healthcare in all the towns and villages in Ekiti, warning against self medication that could subject citizens to untimely death or infirmity.

Represented by the Deputy Governor Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Governor Oyebanji, challenged Ekiti residents to take ownership of the health facilities in their domains, protect them from being damaged, support staff and management of the hospitals in line with government vision to achieve a healthy society.

Governor Oyebanji pointed out that the huge investments in the health sector was aimed to make quality healthcare more accessible and effective for the people in rural areas.

“Our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, I urge you to make the best use of this facility and the equipment provided, deliver care with compassion, uphold the highest professional standards and let this new environment inspire excellence”.

The Governor stated further that all the investments in.the health sector have one purpose, which is to make quality healthcare more accessible and effective for the people of Ifaki and neighbouring communities.

The Governor itemized the modern equipment provided across the Ekiti State General Hospitals to include ,theatre hall with anesthesia machine, operating tables with accessories, instrument and Mayo tables, a mobile theatre operating light, suction pump, 300-watt diathermy, patient monitor, defibrillator, stainless steel cabinet, stretcher, IV poles. and light box.

The Ekiti State number citizen affirmed that all the projects commissioned reflected his government stands for steady progress built on service, compassion, and accountability.

“The Recovery Room, we have provided an electric recovery bed, resuscitation bags, nebulizers, glucometers, patient monitors, and laryngoscopes thus ensuring smooth and well-supported post-operative care, while the Laboratory has been re-equipped with a bench-top centrifuge, blood count analyser, electrolyte analyser, hormone to enable fast, analyser, and semi-auto chemistry analyser accurate, and reliable test results for better diagnosis and treatment.”

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services Dr Oyebanji Filani, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hospitals’ Management Board, Dr Olasnkanmi Alabi pointed out that administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji has renovated and equiped five General Hospitals in the state to make quality healthcare accessible for the people at the grassroots.

“We have we have about five facilities that has enjoyed this graciousness from His Excellency. We’ve done Ilawe, we’ve done Okeimesi, now we’re in Ifaki and we’ll still be going to some other facilities after this. So we want to appreciate His Excellency for this goodwill, what He has done for us. He has not only renovated, he has equipped hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment”.

In his remarks, the Olufaki of Ifaki Ekiti, Oba John Falore recalled that some months back, when he visited the General Hospital, he was nearly crying, saying that all the units at the health facility was leaking with pool of water and appreciated the quick response of Governor Oyebanji to their outcry over the poor condition of the hospital.

Oba Falore said”I remember some months back, anybody that has visited this place in the recent time would know the terrible condition of our general hospital, terribly leaking like a pool . I remember I was here around 1 a.m to see the
situation of the place, I was almost crying.

“We called the government and we were so happy that he responded to our call and the commissioner came the second day and assured us that the hospital will be renovated and fully equipped and as we have it today we can see the situation of the general hospital the need has been transformed”.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to take decisive action to end the ongoing strike by resident doctors and ensure their prompt return to work.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while addressing journalists.

He said the President’s directive followed mounting public concern over the nationwide disruption of healthcare services.

Salako apologised to Nigerians affected by the strike and assured that the Federal Government was working tirelessly to restore normalcy in hospitals.

“Mr President has expressly directed that we must ensure resident doctors resume work without delay,” the minister stated

According to him, the government has been in continuous dialogue with leaders of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, regarding 19 outstanding issues raised by the union.

He stated that the dispute originated from a circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, which created division among healthcare professionals.

It was gathered that the circular was later withdrawn to pave the way for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, that includes the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU.

Salako noted that the CBA committee had convened 12 meetings before talks were suspended due to disagreements over salary structures and the appointment of non-doctor health workers as consultants.

To bridge the divide, the ministry engaged a professor of industrial relations to mediate between the disputing unions, with an interim report already submitted to the government.

He revealed that the Tinubu administration recruited over 14,000 health workers in 2024 and plans to employ an additional 23,000 personnel across 78 federal health institutions within the year.

The minister also announced that the President approved an upward review of the retirement age for clinical health workers to 65 years and released N21.3 billion to offset outstanding arrears, with 60 percent already disbursed.

Salako appealed to the striking doctors and other unions to cooperate with the government in achieving lasting stability within the health sector, emphasising the importance of collaboration.

“The health sector operates as a team; no cadre can function effectively in isolation,” he said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, says Lassa fever has claimed 168 lives across 21 states in 2025.

The agency in its situation report for epidemiological week 38, disclosed a total of 4,543 suspected cases, of which 897 were confirmed positive, with a case fatality rate of 18.7 per cent.

It stated that four states, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, and Bauchi, remain the epicentres of the outbreak, accounting for 67 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ondo alone has recorded the highest burden, followed by Edo and Bauchi.

According to the agency, other affected states include Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Borno, Oyo, Ogun, the Federal Capital Territory, and Lagos.

The report also highlighted that most of the confirmed cases were among people aged 21 to 40, with both men and women affected.

The NCDC said this age group is the most socially and economically active, making them more exposed to the rodent-borne disease.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rats.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered the withdrawal, suspension and cancellation of 101 products from circulation in Nigeria.

The agency gave the order in a post on its official X handle yesterday, stating that the affected products must no longer be manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, advertised, sold or used in the country.

“This is to inform the general public that the following products are approved for withdrawal, suspension and cancellation by NAFDAC. They are therefore no longer permitted for manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use within Nigeria,” the statement read.

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According to NAFDAC, a product is considered withdrawn when its registration is discontinued at the request of the market authorisation holder, suspended when licensing conditions are no longer met, and cancelled when the agency revokes the registration licence completely.

The list encompasses a wide range of medicines and health products, including antibiotics, diabetes medications, cardiovascular drugs, and insulin injectables.

The agency urged healthcare providers, importers, distributors, retailers and the general public to consult the full list of affected products on its website and ensure strict compliance with the directive

Nigerians have been left stranded as the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, commenced a five-day warning strike to press their demands.

This was disclosed on Friday in a brief statement by NARD Secretary-General, Dr Oluwasola Odunbaku, via the association’s X account.

The strike follows NARD’s online National Executive Council’s decision to proceed after its ultimatum to the Nigerian government to meet its demands expired on September 10, 2025.

According to the statement: “The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors hereby notifies all members that the five-day warning strike has commenced today, in line with our NEC decision.

“We urge every member across all centres to comply fully with this directive. This action is aimed at pressing home our demands for better welfare, improved working conditions, and a stronger healthcare system for Nigerians.”