An estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases globally in 2024 were attributable to infections, accounting for about 12 per cent of all new cancer cases, a study published in The Lancet Oncology has found. The study, titled “Global Burden of Cancer Attributable to Infections in 2024: A Worldwide Incidence Analysis”, provides an updated assessment of cancers linked to infectious agents. Led by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the study used data from the Global Cancer Observatory’s GLOBOCAN 2024 database. It assessed cancers attributable to 12 infectious agents classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the IARC…
Author: Newsdesk
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have called for deliberate measures to sustain the gains of the FGN/IFAD-Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) in Kogi beyond its lifespan. They made the call on Saturday in Lokoja at a Policy Dialogue on Sustaining the Gains of VCDP and Follow-up Adoption of VCDP Key Initiatives, organised by the Kogi VCDP office. The National Programme Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said the dialogue was timely as the programme gradually winds down. She stressed that the focus must shift from what VCDP provides to the systems and institutions that will continue to deliver results. Aliyu,…
The International Budget Partnership (IBP) Nigeria and the Kano State Government on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Kano to strengthen transparency and accountability in health sector financing. The partnership will support the development of a health financing dashboard to enable stakeholders to monitor budget planning, releases, expenditure and performance across health sector agencies in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, said the partnership had brought significant improvements in budget planning, execution and tracking in the ministry. He added that the dashboard would enable the ministry to monitor the performance of its various units and…
A coalition of civil society organisations has called for an independent investigation into the reported disruption of TikTok access in parts of northern Nigeria. In a joint statement on Friday, Communications Officer of Media Rights Agenda, Idowu Adewale, said the disruption had affected users in Kaduna, Kebbi, Kano and Sokoto since 14 September. Affected users experienced difficulties loading videos, viewing content and uploading materials via ordinary mobile-data connections. The problem appears to affect multiple networks, with some users reportedly regaining access only through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Preliminary checks have not established whether the disruption resulted from technical failure, network…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its latest Global Health Estimates, showing major trends in life expectancy, mortality, disease burden and morbidity from 2000 to 2023. In a statement on Friday, the organisation said global life expectancy rebounded to 73.3 years in 2023, approaching pre-pandemic levels, although healthy life expectancy remained below the 2019 figure. Noncommunicable diseases accounted for 74 per cent of all deaths globally in 2023, up from 58 per cent in 2000. Dementia deaths tripled, while health loss linked to anxiety and depression rose significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the 10 leading causes of…
Nigerian journalist, lawyer and author Richard Akinnola has called for stronger documentation of Nigeria’s environmental struggles, particularly the Ogoni movement. Akinnola made the call on Friday at a Book Day organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in Benin. He warned that failure to preserve such records could leave younger generations vulnerable to distorted versions of the country’s history. Environmental campaigns, including the struggle of the Ogoni people and the activities of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), form an important part of Nigeria’s history that should be preserved for future generations, he said.…
Civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed support for the three-day warning strike declared by public service workers over unresolved demands. The workers, under the aegis of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), commenced the warning strike over the Federal Government’s alleged failure to address their demands. The strike is intended to draw attention to workers’ grievances, particularly concerns over welfare, remuneration and the worsening economic pressures confronting public servants. Speaking with reporters on Friday, some workers said rising costs of food, transportation and accommodation had made it increasingly difficult to meet family obligations. Mr…
The Enugu State Government has pledged to intensify efforts to improve Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Neonatal Health (SRMNH) services across healthcare facilities in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, made the commitment on Friday at a stakeholders’ meeting on the dissemination of findings from the SRMNH Mid-line Assessment Survey in Enugu. The meeting, supported by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), was held to review progress, identify gaps and develop strategies for improving access to quality and sustainable health services for women and newborns. Ugwu commended CHAI for conducting the assessment, describing it as a significant step…
The Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN) has urged the Federal Government to match Nigeria’s 66 years of independence with decisive action, transparency and deliberate inclusion of vulnerable citizens. Its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Rose Mordi, made the call on Friday in Lagos while addressing newsmen as part of activities marking the foundation’s awareness month. The briefing coincided with a special medical outreach organised by the foundation to kick-start its October awareness activities and mark its 25th anniversary. October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, dedicated to raising public awareness and promoting acceptance of people with Down syndrome. Mordi said Nigeria’s Independence…
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has unveiled a campaign to curb African Swine Fever (ASF) at Oke-Aro Pig Farm Estate, which spans Lagos and Ogun States. The campaign included the distribution of protective and disease-control kits to farmers to strengthen farm hygiene and reduce the risk of disease outbreaks. ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs and can cause significant economic losses. It does not infect humans but can spread rapidly among pigs where adequate biosecurity measures are not observed. In a statement made available to reporters on Friday in Abuja, Dr Sanusi Abubakar,…