Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), says ongoing reforms under the authority are enhancing Nigeria’s health coverage and improving data quality across the health system. Ohiri made the disclosure to reporters on the sidelines of the 13th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed progress and challenges in health financing and service delivery. According to him, the NHIA is being repositioned to function beyond a conventional insurance scheme, evolving into a people-centred system that increases inclusion and access to quality healthcare services. Drawing lessons…
Author: Newsdesk
The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has recorded yield increases of over 150 per cent across major crops, boosting food security and farmers’ incomes in Kano State. The Country Director of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Dr Godwin Atser, disclosed this on Saturday at the KSADP/SAA Project Close-Out Workshop held in Kano. Atser said the gains were achieved through the crop value chain component of KSADP, implemented by SAA in partnership with the Kano State Government. He explained that the project, launched in 2020, was designed to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including low productivity, weak extension services,…
The Plateau State Ministry of Health has sealed the pharmacy of Zenith Life Hospital in Jos over allegations that an expired Ringer’s Lactate intravenous fluid was administered to a patient. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists in Jos. Baamlong said investigations revealed that an expired Ringer’s Lactate infusion, batch number B21284, manufactured in November 2021 and due to expire in October 2024, was allegedly administered to the patient. He explained that the action followed a joint investigation by the ministry, the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (DMCMA), the Pharmacy…
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has inaugurated a five-year food security and malaria prevention project aimed at empowering 1,200 vulnerable households in Katsina and Nasarawa states. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Senior Communications Manager of IHVN, Ms Uzoma Nwofor, on Saturday in Abuja. Nwofor said the project, which was inaugurated simultaneously in both states on Thursday, is designed to promote sustainable agriculture, improved nutrition practices and malaria prevention among vulnerable households. She explained that IHVN, which currently provides HIV services in four states, selected Katsina and Nasarawa based on empirical evidence of vulnerability, including…
The Wife of the Anambra Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has stressed the need to equip children with cooking skills to enable them prepare nutritious meals and reduce dependence on junk food. Soludo made the call on Saturday at the 2025 Healthy Living Cooking and Quiz Competition held in Awka. She said the initiative was inspired by concerns that many young people lacked basic cooking skills, a gap that often pushed them towards unhealthy eating habits with negative health consequences. According to her, exposing children to healthy eating practices at an early age would help safeguard their wellbeing. “Teaching young people…
Stakeholders and analysts in the health sector have warned of a significant funding gap for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) following the allocation of ₦2.48 trillion to the sector in the proposed 2026 budget. They spoke to reporters in Abuja on Saturday while reacting to the 2026 Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly on Friday. The stakeholders noted that the proposed allocation falls far short of the 15 per cent benchmark agreed by African Union member states under the 2001 Abuja Declaration on Health Financing. They said the impact of the funding shortfall would be felt…
The Abia Government has approved the employment of 50 outstanding TechRise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) graduates into the state civil service. Gov. Alex Otti made the announcement on Saturday during the TechRise Cohort 2 graduation ceremony in Umuahia. He directed the Head of Service to begin their documentation, noting that the recruitment would follow due process and require valid credentials. Otti said the employment embargo was temporarily lifted to accommodate the 50 graduates and would be reinstated after the exercise. He also announced that 849 graduates of the programme would receive laptops to support their professional development. Prize winners…
An agri-mechanisation firm, Origin Tech Group, on Saturday reiterated its commitment to increasing agricultural yields by empowering farmers with modern agro-mechanization tools. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Mr. Samuel Joseph Samuel, Executive Chairman of Origin Tech, said the company aims to enhance food security and sustainability across Nigeria. Origin Tech Group, a leading Agri-Tech and Food Systems company, provides agricultural infrastructure solutions, advanced mechanization technology, and farm equipment across industries in four continents. Its immediate focus in Nigeria is to revolutionize the agricultural sector by introducing robust mechanization to both urban and rural farming communities. Samuel explained that…
The Cancer Consciousness Initiative (CCI) has inaugurated the TeleOncology Hub to improve access to specialist cancer care in Northeastern Nigeria. The programme provides telemedicine consultations, virtual Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, and patient navigation services. Dr. Hannatu Ayuba, CEO of CCI and Programme Lead of the TeleOncology Hub, described the initiative as a health system-strengthening programme during an interview with reporters on Sunday in Abuja. Ayuba highlighted the rising number of cancer cases in the region and the urgent need to improve healthcare access. “Many patients in underserved communities face obstacles that delay diagnosis and treatment, affecting survival. In the Northeast,…
Avon Medical Practice has expanded its critical-care capacity with the launch of a fully enhanced Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The N200 million facility, located within its recently commissioned building extension, strengthens the hospital’s capability to manage high-acuity cases requiring advanced monitoring and specialised intervention. This facility directly tackles medical tourism by bringing world-class healthcare to Nigeria. The unit operates 24/7 with a dedicated team comprising three intensive-care physicians, three critical-care nurses in rotation, three nursing assistants and on-call specialists, led by a Consultant Intensivist. It is equipped to manage severe respiratory failure, post-operative complications, sepsis, cardiac emergencies, and multi-organ dysfunction. The upgraded ICU is equipped…