Public health advocate, Dr Mcphalane Ejah, has warned that Nigeria is “sitting on a keg of gunpowder” due to growing youth ignorance about HIV. Ejah, who chairs the Prevention Technical Working Group on HIV in Cross River State, issued the warning on Monday in Calabar during an interview with reporters. He said World AIDS Day, observed annually on Dec. 1, remained critical for honoring victims, supporting people living with HIV, combating stigma and promoting prevention. Ejah expressed concern that many young people now doubt the existence of HIV because they rarely encounter awareness messages on radio, billboards or community platforms.…
Author: Newsdesk
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for urgent investment in the local production of HIV drugs and commodities to safeguard treatment access nationwide. ACPN Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh, said increasing domestic capacity was critical to sustaining effective HIV treatment, warning that shrinking donor funding threatened decades of progress in Nigeria’s HIV response. In a statement marking World AIDS Day 2025 in Abuja, Ezeh said the theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” underscored Nigeria’s responsibility to strengthen internal capacity and reduce dependence on external support. He noted that declining international funding—particularly from the United States—posed serious risks…
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the Federal Government to prioritize the development of the country’s blue economy to fully unlock its vast potential. NSE President and Chairman-in-Council, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, made the call on Monday at a news conference ahead of the 2025 NSE International Conference scheduled for Dec. 1 to 5 in Ibadan. Oguntala said the conference theme, “Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria,” was timely, noting that the blue economy offers Nigeria a viable pathway to diversify its revenue base beyond oil. She stated that the theme aligns with global efforts toward…
The Gombe State Government, in partnership with the European Union, has launched the Nigeria Solar for Health Project to expand renewable energy access for healthcare delivery. Officials said the initiative would provide reliable solar power to selected health facilities and extend clean energy to nearby productive users. Speaking at the launch on Monday in Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, represented by Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau, said the project would strengthen healthcare services across the state. Yahaya said his administration remained committed to improving people’s welfare, noting: “We increased funding for healthcare in our state budget from 3.5 per cent in 2019…
The Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MSN), in collaboration with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), has intensified efforts to promote early detection and prevention of mycotoxins in Nigeria’s agricultural produce. Farmers and agricultural stakeholders were sensitized on mycotoxin risk management during the MSN 18th Annual Conference hosted by SON on Monday in Lagos. The conference had the theme: “Mycotoxins in a Changing World: Risk, Management and Innovations.” Mycotoxins are toxic chemical substances produced by certain moulds that contaminate food and pose severe health risks to humans and animals. Common types—including aflatoxins and fumonisins—are often found in cereals, nuts and dried…
A new study by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has demonstrated that drones equipped with methane sensors can reliably measure greenhouse-gas emissions from grazing livestock across Africa. The findings — published in the journal Biogeosciences — reveal that drone-based measurements produce estimates of methane emissions comparable to those generated by classic inventory methods used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), opening a path toward more accurate and context-specific emissions monitoring in pastoral systems. The researchers carried out field tests in early 2024 at ILRI’s Kapiti Research Station — near Machakos, Kenya — flying a drone over various herds of…
The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the Revive Belgian Mission, has launched a free medical exercise providing surgeries and treatment for various ailments across the state. The exercise was launched on Monday in Katsina by Governor Dikko Radda, who said improving healthcare delivery is a top priority of his administration. Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu, the governor stressed the importance of health, noting that “health is life.” He added that the government would continue to partner with international organizations to improve the wellbeing of its people, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to nation-building. Governor Radda thanked…
Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has urged Nigerians to overcome their fear of HIV testing, describing it as a crucial step in the fight against the disease. Dr. Soludo, who is also the Founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, made the appeal on Monday in Awka during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration. World AIDS Day is observed annually to promote sustained political leadership, international cooperation, and human-rights-focused strategies aimed at ending AIDS by 2030. The theme for 2025 is “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.” Mrs. Soludo said routine HIV testing is vital for early…
A Non-Governmental Organization, Body Without Spot (BWS), has urged men to undertake periodic Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening to enable early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. The call was made by the Founder and Convener of BWS, Emeritus Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, at an event organized in partnership with the Enugu Sports Club on Monday in Enugu. Okoye said prostate cancer is one of the leading cancers affecting men of African descent, including Nigerian men, who are at higher risk. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. A vital part of…
The Federal Government has begun providing people living with HIV/AIDS access to free annual liver and kidney function tests through expanded health insurance, aiming to improve long-term health outcomes nationwide. Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced this during the 2025 World AIDS Day celebration in Abuja, organized by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and partners. Salako said the initiative is part of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen quality care for people living with HIV, ensuring earlier diagnosis, better retention in treatment, and improved health outcomes for all patients. “We are moving…