Nigeria News

Abuja, 6 June, 2023 - Before 2021, the cautionary advice on cigarette packs in Nigeria was “The Federal Ministry of Health warns that smokers are liable to die young.”  
Yet, this did not deter Useni Musa, a resident of the Federal Captial Territory (Abuja),  in Northcentral Nigeria, from trying out his first cigarette stick at  13. 
By the age of 19, he had become addicted, smoking an average of two packs a day.

Osun, 22 May, 2023 - Summoning the courage to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, 49 years old Mrs Olatunji Kafayat, residing in Osogbo, Osun state, southwest Nigeria, closes her eyes as the syringe pierce her arm. 

Smiling after the vaccination, Mrs Olatunji says it was her first COVID-19 dose. 

“I took the COVID-19 vaccine because the sensitization team that came to my community to raise awareness was able to convince me about the importance of receiving it.

Abuja, 22 May, 2023 - At least 64% of children ages 12 to 23 months in Nigeria failed to receive all recommended vaccines by the National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the last five years, from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS). 
The development is increasing the risk of outbreaks and child mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Abuja, 19 May, 2023 - At least 64 per cent of children between ages 12-23 months in Nigeria did not receive all recommended vaccines in 2021, but some caregivers are stepping up to ensure their children get protected through vaccination.

Amongst them is Mrs Joy Armstrong, cuddling her nine-month-old son Joel under a pavilion at the Kuje General Hospital, Kuje Area Council, located in Abuja, Nigeria, waiting to access Routine Immunization (RI) service.
Joel was scheduled to receive meningitis, yellow fever and the first dose of the measles vaccine. 

Zamfara, 19 May, 2023 -  Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, residing in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria was 12 when he contracted the poliovirus. 

As a direct consequence, he developed a disability that paralyzed his left leg, affecting his mobility. He now uses crutches to aid his movement. 

Ibrahim could not recount the reasons why he did not receive the recommended routine immunization, especially the vaccines against polio, that would have prevented the disease he suffers now.

Abuja, In Nigeria, an estimated 6.2 million children missed out on receiving a single dose of their routine vaccines from 2019 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To reach these eligible children with life-saving vaccines, the government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is intensifying various strategies to optimize “Big Catch-up campaign” to improve vaccination coverage across the country.

Abuja, With Nigeria still accounting for 27 percent of global malaria cases and 31 percent of global malaria deaths, relevant stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated to support the government to combat the effects of malaria in the country. 

Malaria is endemic in Nigeria and 32 years old Toyin Obasola and her family of six residing in Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, is part of those who regularly fall ill from the disease. 

Osun - In accordance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mandate of improving public health services in Nigeria, over 500 residents of Osogbo community, benefitted from a free medical outreach programme at the Orisunbare Market in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State located in South-West Nigeria. 

The programme was organized with support from the Department of Community Medicine Osun State Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUN) Osogbo and the Osun State Ministry of Health. 

Lagos - Sometime in February, Kazeem Ade, age seven, was recuperating from diphtheria on a hospital bed in the children's ward at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in Lagos Southwest Nigeria.  

His mother, Mrs Ade, can now smile after enduring a nerve-racking week at the hospital where her son including dozen other children have been receiving treatment for diphtheria – a vaccine-preventable disease that has killed 62 people (mostly children) in the country. 

Abuja ‒ In mid-March, 16-year-old Saifullahi Bulama, residing in Garin Mu’azu, located in Sule Tankankar Local Government Area (LGA) in Jigawa State, Nigeria, was healthy and running around with his friends.  Suddenly, he contracted cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM).

He recounts how he went to bed that night and could not stand up the next morning. 

“My legs were not working. I had a temperature and my body was aching. I was rushed to the hospital, where I was admitted and treated for four days,” he says.