The World Health Organisation (WHO) says preliminary findings of two Marburg virus cases have prompted Ghana to prepare for a potential outbreak of the disease and has mobilised health experts to support the authorities. Ghana informed WHO of first-ever suspected cases of Marburg virus disease on Thursday. If confirmed, these would be the first such infections recorded in the country, and only the second in West Africa. Marburg is a highly infectious viral haemorrhagic fever in the same family as the more well-known Ebola virus disease. “The health authorities are on the ground investigating the situation and preparing for a…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE (PPB), an NGO campaigning against cancer in Nigeria, Mr Runcie Chidebe has been conferred with African Genius Award (AGA). A statement by PPB Communication and Social Media Lead Officer, Mr Chika Joseph, noted that Chidebe was honoured for outstanding performance on the African continent, particularly in Nigeria. Joseph noted that the executive director was given the award along with Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and 11 others from Africa. The organisers of the 2022 AGA are Plus 94 Research and Priority Performance Project and the University of Pretoria (UP),…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Thursday, that a growing and largely ignored malnutrition crisis is unfolding in northwest Nigeria, and in effect, threatening the lives of tens of thousands of children in the region. Since January, MSF teams, working in partnership with Nigerian health authorities in five northwestern states, have already treated more than 50,000 children with acute malnutrition, including 7,000 who required hospital care. MSF has expressed fears that the situation will soon become untenable without increased lifesaving humanitarian support. “We’re getting ready to treat up to 100,000 malnourished children this year…
Bayelsa state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BioCubaFarma Consortium of the Republic of Cuba for the establishment of vaccines and pharmaceuticals production plant in the State. This is a fall-out of a 3-day investment visit to Cuba led by the state governor, Sen. Douye Diri. The Bayelsa Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investments, Patience Abah, signed the MoU for the government at a ceremony in Havana, the Cuban capital. Dr Mayda Mauri Pérez, the First Vice President of BioCubaFarma, signed for the Consortium. The signing ceremony…
Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, wife of Kebbi state governor has launched a training program for healthcare providers in the state on appropriate care and support for Gender-based Violence (GBV) survivors. The training supported by the USAID Integrated Health Program (IHP), will build the capacity of front line healthcare workers to prevent and respond to GBV in every primary healthcare center (PHC) across the state. Dr Bagudu represented by the former Executive Secretary Secondary Schools Management Board and Chairperson High Level Women Advocacy, Asmau Alkali said at the event on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi, that the training will strengthen the capacity of frontline…
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Government of Senegal, through the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA) and Union Nationale Interprofessionnelle des Semences du Sénégal (UNIS), have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at improving agricultural productivity in the West African nation. The partnership targets priority crops such as rice, maize, groundnuts, and cassava that the government is working on to improve its productivity amidst vulnerabilities of climate change. Speaking at the opening of a one-day high-level roundtable in Dakar (July 7) on Innovative and Economically Sustainable Agriculture for Rural Transformation, Dr Moussa Baldé, Minister for Agriculture and…
Almost half of Australians are living with a chronic health condition, a report has said. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on Thursday published its latest two-yearly report on the nation’s health. It found that the life expectancy rate at birth increased to 83.0 years in 2020, or the sixth-highest rate among the 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. However, with people living longer the number of Australians with at least one chronic health condition such as diabetes, cancer or mental conditions has increased to 11.6 million, or 47 per cent of the population.…
By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi The USAID Nigeria Health Workforce Management Activity, has donated learning and skills laboratory equipment to three health training institutions in Bauchi state. Aimed at strengthening pre-service health system, the equipment was presented at the Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Sciences Bauchi on Wednesday. The benefiting institutions are Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Sciences Bauchi; Bill and Melinda Gates College of Health Technology Ningi and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi. The State Coordinator of USAID Nigeria Health Workforce Management Activity, Roberts Nature said the project is aimed to strengthen pre-service health system and improve quality…
By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a one week training for 150 Bauchi youths scavengers on waste management. The training with theme: “Efficient Waste Management Practices and A-Z of Recycling” is taking place at River Edge Hotel Bauchi. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Environment, Suleiman M. Babaji said the training shows the commission’s commitment to secure a sustainable environment not only for present generations but also for the future ones. He added that the training which is anchored on waste management will help the youths…
Niger state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammed Umaru Bago has picked the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yakubu Garba as his running mate. Bago made the announcement through his Twitter handle @HonBago on Monday. “I am delighted to announce Comrade Yakubu Garba, the Chairman of Niger State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as the Deputy Governorship candidate of our party, APC in the 2023 elections. “I appreciate the stakeholders, members of our party and the people of Niger East Senatorial Zone for presenting their illustrious son as my running mate. “A greater Niger…