National malaria elimination programme reviews progress in Nigeria

The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu, has through the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), hosted a 4-day Annual Review Meeting (ARM) of Malaria Programme managers from 17th – 20th March, with the theme; Sustaining the Push towards Malaria Elimination in Nigeria.

2014 WORLD TB DAY: WHO donates gene expert machines to government

The World Health Organization has donated GeneXpert MTB/RIF machines, cartridges and other backup power accessories to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Honorable Minister of State for Health Dr. Khaliru Alhassan in order to facilitate early detection and control of tuberculosis (TB).

Down to zero: Nigeria stops guinea-worm disease in its tracks

March 2014 - From more than 650 000 cases in 1988 to zero today, Nigeria has successfully stopped transmission of guinea-worm disease, also known as dracunculiasis. Thousands of volunteer polio vaccinators helped to check every household nationwide to ensure that there were no remaining cases before the country could be certified free of guinea-worm disease in December 2013.

Meningitis Outbreak in KEBBI State: WHO moves to halt further fatalities.

Since the beginning of the year 2014, Kebbi State in North Western Nigeria has been experiencing an outbreak of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM). Laboratory tests have shown that the Neisseria meningitides Type C serogroup is circulating. As of week 12, 2014, a total of 288 cases reported with 43 death (Case Fatality Rate, CFR=14.9); 36 cases have been confirmed positive, notably in Jega, Aliero, Gwandu, Augie, Suru and Zuru LGAs.

Journalists team up with WHO to create demand for Polio Immunization

The Journalists Initiative on Immunization against Polio (JAP) has strengthened collaboration with the WHO Kaduna state office to mobilize the support of religious and traditional leaders as well as other opinion moulders with the capacity to influence social decisions, in order to fight intractable non-compliance to polio  immunization in very high risk Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Prominent ANTI-OPV cleric turns pro-immununization campaigner in Borno State

Polio supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) have been met with stiff resistance in 478 quranic (Tsangaya) schools in the security-compromised state of Borno due to an array of reasons which deduced Immunization as a western ploy to check the growth of muslim population and fear that non-compliant parents may withdraw their children from schools that allow immunization

WHO Representative reaffirms commitment to Polio Eradication in Nigeria

The Representative of the World Health Organization, Nigeria, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz has reaffirmed the commitment of WHO to support the on-going polio eradication initiative in Nigeria. Dr. Vaz gave this assurance during a courtesy call paid to him by the Chair of The Rotary Foundation, Mr. Dong Kurn Lee and other Rotary International dignitaries.

Governor vaccinating a baby with OPV

In 2013, Nasarawa and Niger States in the North Central region of Nigeria commonly referred to as the ‘Middle Belt’, given their geographical location on the map, had importation of the wild polio virus (WPV) each from endemic states after several months of stopping transmission. Since then, political commitment in the area has been rekindled with relentless personal commitment of State governors to protect states in the axis from re-infection through high-profile activities to create visibility for the Polio Eradication Initiative.

Polio Eradication: Nigeria on the verge of History - ERC

The immediate feedback from the just concluded 27th Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio and Routine Immunization in Nigeria has revealed  that the country ‘ is on the verge of making history by eradicating polio, the entire nation must be made aware, rallied and mobilized to capitalize on this unique window of opportunity’.