The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 17 new confirmed Lassa fever cases and one death across four states in epidemiological week 47 (Nov. 17–23). The agency disclosed this on Tuesday via its official website in the Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epi Week 47. According to the NCDC, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in 2025 has risen to 1,089 with 179 deaths, compared with 1,095 cases and 179 deaths recorded over the same period in 2024. The report noted that nine Local Government Areas were affected in the latest reporting week. It highlighted ongoing…
Author: Newsdesk
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has outlined major reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, expanding immunization coverage and reaching zero-dose children across the country. The Executive Director and CEO of the NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina, announced the reforms during the agency’s quarterly media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja. Aina highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, improve PHC functionality and expand digital health systems nationwide. He said the agency’s goal was to ensure at least 17,600 fully functional primary health centres (PHCs) out of more than 30,000 centres across the country. “These…
Sen. Mukhail Abiru (APC, Lagos-East), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, says innovation is key to Nigeria’s development. Abiru stated this on Wednesday at the maiden research fair of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) in Ikorodu. The event had as its theme: “Rebuilding Nigeria’s Research and University System in a Fast-Changing Global Environment.” As the special guest of honor, Abiru called for a radical transformation of research and innovation within the nation’s university system to keep pace with global technological advancements. He said innovation-driven education remained central to national competitiveness.…
Lawmakers and health sector stakeholders have called for stronger legal frameworks and sustainable financing mechanisms to guarantee predictable funding for vaccines and primary health care in the country. The call was made in Abuja at the end of the Financing Immunization Champions Summit, convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services. The Call to Action was signed by Rep. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the committee, on Wednesday in Abuja. Participants expressed concern over persistent underfunding of the health sector, high out-of-pocket expenditure, and poor health outcomes resulting from weak primary healthcare systems and inconsistent financing for routine immunization.…
A coalition of human rights groups in Ebonyi has advocated the use of modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Text-to-Speech (TTS) tools and virtual court hearings, to strengthen the justice delivery system. The coalition includes the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre (HRCRC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and others. The call was made during a press conference to commemorate the 2025 International Human Rights Day on Wednesday in Abakaliki. This year’s observance was themed “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.” The Coordinator of the NHRC in Ebonyi, Mr Christopher Okorie, said the event underscored…
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) has urged the hospital management to urgently address the shortage of doctors, warning that the situation is straining services and undermining patient care. The call was made during the association’s pre-2025 Annual General Meeting and election briefing in Awka, where members stressed the need to resolve staffing gaps ahead of the Dec. 11 meeting. President of ARD-COOUTH, Dr Joy Okwumuo, appealed to the management to fulfill its commitment to recruit and replace consultants, resident doctors, and house officers as a practical step to reduce workload and…
Community members of the Batlokoa Ba Mota cultural community of Tsheseng in Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State yesterday received vegetable production training from Saai and AfriForum which focused on regenerative agricultural methods that is tailored to communities that have access to limited resources. The training involved soil health improvement and preparation, mulching for better water retention, temperature stabilisation and weed control, planting, general care and management as well as life skills. This is the next step in the process of supporting the community to strengthen their self-sufficiency and self-reliance undertaken by the historic partnership that was forged under the leadership…
From AI-driven analytics to satellite imagery, advances in technology are transforming how the agriculture industry monitors and manages crop production. Where producers once relied exclusively on intuition and experience, important decisions are now increasingly guided by ongoing research and data. With access to accurate insights and smarter tools, farmers can ultimately produce higher yields while using fewer resources. Microbial product developments One of the most significant shifts in modern agriculture has been the rise of biological technology, which is already making a profound impact on crop production. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and other microbes play a vital role in…
With producers under mounting pressure from climate change and soil degradation, biostimulants are fast emerging as a vital part of South Africa’s agricultural future. According to the South Africa Biostimulants Market report, the local biostimulants market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 5% between 2023 and 2029, driven by increased investment in research and market expansion. Venessa Moodley, Biologicals Lead at Omnia Agriculture, says that the current biostimulant landscape consists primarily of seaweed extracts, amino acids, humic and fulvic acids. “These products have gained the most traction in high-value crops such as vineyards, orchards, and other…
The Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State has set a target to immunise about 268,000 children under five years old in December 2025. The Local Government Immunisation Officer (LIO), Mr Ashiru Muazu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse. Muazu said the exercise had been successful so far and expressed confidence that the target would be achieved before the end of the exercise. He acknowledged an earlier challenge of vaccine shortages in some areas but noted that the issue had been resolved with additional supplies. Muazu added that the immunisation…