Health

Northern Ireland Office may directly instruct trusts to offer abortion services

Brandon Lewis could override the Northern Ireland executive and directly instruct the nation’s health trusts to provide abortion services, warning leaders in a leaked letter that the continued delay is unacceptable conduct in public office.

The Northern Ireland secretary wrote to the first minister, Paul Givan, and his deputy, Michelle O’Neill, warning he would soon “have no alternative but to take further steps to ensure that women and girls have access to abortion services as decided by parliament, and to which they have a right”.

The Northern Ireland Office could explore working directly with health trusts to implement the abortion provision if Stormont does not take steps to ensure they do so. Lewis warned in his letter that continued failure could leave Stormont in breach of the European convention on human rights.

In a separate letter to the health minister, Robin Swann, Lewis demanded to see a detailed assessment of progress to date and a roadmap to meeting the March 2022 deadline. He said NIO officials had been blocked from attending meetings with the department – which he called “unacceptable.”

Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October 2019 after a Westminster vote led by the Labour MP Stella Creasy. But since Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has not commissioned or funded any services, leaving some trusts to try to provide a service without funding or a framework.

Previously in Northern Ireland abortions were allowed only if a woman’s life was at risk or if she was at risk of permanent damage to her mental or physical health. It meant in most cases that women seeking the service were forced to make sometimes traumatic journeys to England, risking prosecution.

Earlier this year, Lewis said he would take unprecedented action and use parliament to give himself new powers to commission the services. Stormont has been formally directed to commission the services before the end of March 2022, but there has been little material improvement.

A high court judge ruled this month that Lewis had failed to uphold his duties to provide full abortion services in Northern Ireland after a judicial review was brought by a woman told to travel to England for an abortion during the pandemic.

Lewis said earlier he was disappointed in the ruling, adding that he had been the only party to take steps to try to force the executive to provide the services.

In the letter Lewis warned Givan and O’Neill he was prepared to take further unprecedented intervention in Northern Ireland’s health service, saying it was “entirely unacceptable” to attempt to block a legal duty.

“I firmly believe that there is also a moral duty to women and girls to ensure they are afforded their fundamental human rights – the same rights afforded to women and girls in the rest of the UK,” he wrote.

“The executive cannot continue to delay in this matter and the court could well conclude that a decision not to agree to proposals for the commissioning of services breaches article 8 of the ECHR.”

Lewis said he agreed with the judge who called the delay “dispiriting”.

“In fact, I would go further. Those in public office must comply with their legal obligations whether or not they agree with the law in question,” he wrote in the letter.

Lewis said if it became “clear to me” that the Department of Health or executive were “not making sufficient progress, or are intent on blocking this issue, I will have no alternative but to take further steps to ensure that women and girls have access to abortion services as decided by parliament, and to which they have a right”.

Health

WHO appoints Ihekweazu as ED Health Emergencies Programme

Nigerian epidemiologist, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has been appointed as the Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme. This appointment marks a significant milestone, placing a Nigerian at the helm of WHO’s largest department responsible for coordinating global responses to health emergencies.

Prior to this role, Ihekweazu served as WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems. He is also widely recognised for his transformative leadership as the founding Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), where he led the agency from 2016 to 2021, establishing it as one of Africa’s leading public health institutions.

In February 2025, Ihekweazu was appointed Acting Regional Director for WHO Africa, succeeding Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. His tenure during this transition period received commendations for his leadership until the nomination of Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi as the next Regional Director.

Ihekweazu’s appointment comes at a critical time as the world faces numerous health challenges, including emerging infectious diseases, the impacts of climate change, and strained health financing. His extensive background in public health and epidemiology is expected to bolster WHO’s capacity to respond effectively to global health emergencies.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare celebrated his appointment, describing it as a proud moment for Nigeria. Coordinating Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate hailed Ihekweazu as ‘the right choice at the right time’, praising his bold and compassionate leadership as crucial for navigating the complexities of the global health landscape.

Ihekweazu succeeds Dr. Mike Ryan, who led the Health Emergencies Programme through critical events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In his new role, Ihekweazu will oversee WHO’s preparedness, response, and mitigation efforts for global health emergencies, ensuring that the organization remains agile and effective in safeguarding public health.

His appointment is part of a broader leadership restructuring within WHO, aimed at enhancing its operational efficiency and responsiveness to global health challenges.

Ihekweazu’s career spans senior roles at the South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the UK’s Health Protection Agency, and Germany’s Robert Koch Institute. He holds a Master of Public Health from Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany, and is an alumnus of the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training.

His leadership is anticipated to bring renewed focus to strengthening health systems, improving surveillance, and fostering international collaboration to address current and emerging health threats.

Ihekweazu’s appointment not only underscores his exceptional contributions to global health but also highlights Africa’s growing influence in shaping international health policy and governance.

Health

Bayelsa records 98% immunisation coverage

Bayelsa has recorded a 98 per cent coverage in the first round of the 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) programme conducted from the May 3 to May 6.

Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, deputy governor of the state, disclosed this during a meeting of the state’s taskforce on immunisation in Yenagoa on Wednesday.

He said that the government’s ultimate target was to achieve 100 per cent coverage in subsequent immunisation campaigns.

Ewhrudjakpo lauded the WHO, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and other critical stakeholders for the feat achieved so far.

He, however, urged the partners not to rest on their oars as much still have to be done to achieve its target of 100 per cent immunization coverage.

He underscored the need for early preparations ahead of the second round of 2025 NIPDs scheduled for July.

The deputy governor assured the partners that funds for the programme would be released not later than two weeks to its commencement.

He directed all council chairmen to flag-off the second round of the 2025 NIPDs programme at any community other than their respective local government headquarters.

The deputy governor urged the chairmen to meet with the traditional rulers, school proprietors, and religious leaders in their areas to sensitise them on the importance of immunisation.

He also called parents, schools and churches to allow children to participate in the immunisation programme.

”The state government is serious about enforcing its public health law and executive order on compulsory immunisation.

“We have taken our immunisation coverage up to 98 per cent. But we want to take it to 100 per cent this time around, and that is why we have convened this meeting.

“We are also going to make an upward review of the logistics to reflect the present economic realities in the country,” he said.

Presentations by Dr Marcus Oluwadare of the WHO, and Dr Gbanaibulou Orukari, Director of Disease Control, Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, revealed that area councils scored high percentage in the coverage.

They, however, identified poor workload rationalisation, data falsification and lack of commitment on the part of some personnel.

According to Oluwadare, we commend the Deputy Governor of the state for flagging off the NIPDs and chairing all the state ERMs in spite of his tight schedule.

“Bayelsa State was the only state to have full complements of her stakeholders in attendance during the April NIPDs in the whole of Nigeria,” he said.

Health

NCDC records 832 Lassa fever, Mpox cases, 135 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the country has recorded 832 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and Mpox.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, the agency’s Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, revealed that 132 fatalities were recorded from Lassa fever and three from Mpox.

While acknowledging a recent decline in Lassa fever infections during epidemiological week 16 (ending April 20, 2025), he warned that the overall risk remains high, particularly in endemic regions.

“Cumulatively, as of week 16, Nigeria has reported 4,253 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 696 confirmed cases, and 132 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 19.0 percent,” he stated.

Dr. Idris attributed recent improvements to intensified surveillance, treatment efforts, and enhanced community engagement. He emphasized, however, the continued need for vigilance and collaboration to sustain progress.

Regarding Mpox, the NCDC boss disclosed that three deaths have been recorded in 2025—two in Abia and Ebonyi States in week 10, and one recently in Rivers State involving a patient co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis. As of week 16, 723 suspected cases and 136 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The national case fatality rate currently stands at 2.2 per cent.

“The epidemic curve reveals multiple peaks in Mpox cases, indicating ongoing transmission. While most states have reported suspected cases, confirmed infections are heavily concentrated in Nigeria’s southern and central regions,” Dr. Idris noted.

To address these outbreaks, the NCDC has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), deployed National Rapid Response Teams to affected states, and prepositioned essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment and laboratory consumables. Five additional Mpox diagnostic laboratories have also been optimized in Bauchi, Kano, Cross River, Rivers, and Enugu States.

“Healthcare workers are undergoing specialized training in infection prevention, case management, and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) care. Community outreach is being reinforced through public awareness campaigns, media engagement, and targeted health communication strategies,” he added.

On cerebrospinal meningitis, Dr. Idris reported a consistent decline in new cases and fatalities over the last three weeks.

He attributed the improvement to effective vaccination, early treatment, and adaptive surveillance strategies tailored to real-time data.

“Although the situation remains serious, strong national and state-level coordination is showing positive results. The response will continue until full containment is achieved and states take full ownership of the CSM Incident Action Plan,” he said.

Dr. Idris also expressed concern about the rising Mpox trend since its reemergence in 2017, with significant spikes recorded between 2022 and 2024, positioning Nigeria among the most affected countries globally. He warned that underreporting and delayed data entry remain challenges that need urgent resolution to ensure accurate and timely outbreak response.

A national mortality review for the recent Mpox deaths is being planned to further assess response effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

The NCDC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through timely surveillance, transparent reporting, and coordinated national response mechanisms aimed at reducing disease burden and preventing future outbreaks.