Index to Nigerian Newspapers

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 1.74 million children in Nigeria's North East are underweight. Acute malnutrition analysis among children in six local government areas, including Machina, Yusufari, Nguru, Bade, Bursari, and Geidam, all located on the northern edge of Yobe State, reached a critical level according to the Integrated Food Phase Classification (IPC). In Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, the analysis found that "high levels of acute malnutrition are prevalent in many areas between September and December 2021, with over 60% of areass analysed being in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification IPC AMN Phase 3 (serious) of 4 (Critical)."Through August 2022, it is anticipated that almost 1.74 million children under the age of five will have acute malnutrition.This includes more than a million children who are moderately malnourished and about 614,000 kids who are extremely malnourished. Additionally, it's probable that over 151,000 women who are pregnant or nursing will be severely undernourished.

The Federal Ministry of Health warns 171 local government areas (LGAs) in 14 states are at high risk of spreading the diphtheria outbreak. The partnership, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, states, and partners, aims to intensify mass vaccination to curb the outbreak in two phases. Diphtheria affects people of all ages, particularly children, and targets the respiratory system.

The wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has called on mothers to take adequate care of their babies through immunisation, exclusive breastfeeding and provision of proper nutrition. She also called on mothers to note the importance of ante-natal, hospital deliveries and post-natal care to address the challenges of maternal and child mortality, as well as maintain basic sanitation and hygiene.

The wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has called on mothers to take adequate care of their babies through immunisation, exclusive breastfeeding and provision of proper nutrition. She also called on mothers to note the importance of ante-natal, hospital deliveries and post-natal care to address the challenges of maternal and child mortality, as well as maintain basic sanitation and hygiene.

The wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has called on mothers to take adequate care of their babies through immunisation, exclusive breastfeeding and provision of proper nutrition. She also called on mothers to note the importance of ante-natal, hospital deliveries and post-natal care to address the challenges of maternal and child mortality, as well as maintain basic sanitation and hygiene. ,.

The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health has raised the alarm over the prevalence of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) in 11 councils of the state, with four council areas being endemic to Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), soil-transmitted Helminthiasisis (intestinal worms), Schistosomiasis or snail fever with water snail as vector, and Lymphatic Filariasis or elephantiasis. The most affected council areas are Ibeno, Ibiono Ibom and Ika. Uwa urged partnership with the media, private sector, and entrepreneurs to help the vulnerable.

The Nigerian Army opened a free medical clinic as part of their commemoration of Military Forces Day in the state, and Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari was there. Peoples Plaza in Katsina, which is right across from the government building, was the site of the procedure. A procession and wreath-laying ceremony were also held in remembrance of military troops who lost their lives while performing their duty in the field. The state will always be grateful to the security services for their efforts in lowering crime in the state, said Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who was also the event's guest of honour. I promise that I and the Katsina State Government would do everything in our power to help you, he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Doyin Salami to serve as his first Chief Economic Adviser. Salami, 59, is expected to address all issues on the domestic economy and present views to the President. He is expected to closely monitor national and international developments, trends, and develop appropriate policy responses and make recommendations to the President. He is also expected to pay attention to national economic policies to foster macro-economic stability, promote growth, create jobs, and eradicate poverty. Buhari has set a record as the first President since 1999 to have led the country without CEAP. Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan all appointed CEAP. BALA Zaka believes the decision is not too late and that if he succeeds, someone else can take over from him.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported a significant decrease in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last three weeks, with the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria decreasing by 52.6% and the number of deaths decreasing by 26.9%. However, hospitalisation increased by 21.5%. The data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) showed that 13,769,415 of the total eligible persons were reached with the first dose and 5,199,824 with the second dose. The NCDC has also made repeat tests compulsory for returnees to the country during the first and subsequent waves of the pandemic.

The disease has continued to ravage states, with many cases and deaths recorded in the last week. Kano records 10343 suspected cases, while Ede has contained the outbreak. A total of 65145 suspected cases were recorded within the period under review. The affected states are putting measures in place to curb the outbreak. The affected states are putting measures in place to curb the cholera outbreak. In Kano, 1665 cases were recorded and 842 people treated and discharged. Three persons died of the disease in Ede. In Bayelsa State, six persons were hospitalised after showing symptoms of cholera. The state's environmental police, public toilets or mobile toilets must be used, and some residential homes in the capital are being sealed for poor environmental conditions. The state's Commissioner for Health is also visiting communities to create awareness.

Monkeys from the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) have become a menace for residents of Lekki community on Lagos Island, raiding their homes to steal and eat human food. The residents have complained to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, but no serious effort has been made to tackle the menace. The community is blaming the invasion of residents' homes on an alleged failure by LCC to pay attention to the feeding of the animals or design a way of preventing them from encroaching on the humans' space. The menace is becoming scarier with reports that monkeys harbour some zoonotic diseases, including monkeypox and Herbesvirus B (Virus B). Herpesvirus B spreads from infected macaque monkeys to human beings. The Guardian visited the affected areas of Chevron Estate and Orchid Road in Lekki, where residents reported seeing monkeys daily. Non-harvesting of the monkeys had led to an increase in the population and cases of conflicts. Experts said there is a need to determine the ideal population of monkeys that could be sustained without harming or disturbing residents of the neighbouring communities, or leading to human-monkey conflict.

Rotary Club of Ogudu GRA has distributed baby cots with net covers, clothes, and baby scales to some pregnant women and the Ogudu Primary Health Centre, Lagos State.

President of the club, Mr Akeem Shonde, said the club distributed the maternal and child kits to pregnant women and the hospital to commemorate the Rotary Month of maternal and child health.

 Shonde also said the club gave out the items to help reduce the burden of malaria among babies as well as cushion the harsh economic effects of getting those items on the mothers.

“The nets will prevent the babies from having malaria. Looking at the economic situation in the country, we decided to help the pregnant women remove that burden of getting those items because it is very important for them to prevent their babies from having malaria,” he said. 

Representative of the health centre, Dr Kehinde Oguntoyinbo, commended the Rotary club for their continuous support for the hospital, saying most of the pregnant women were not financially buoyant to get the mother and baby care items.

She said “The club has helped the women to remove the burden of buying baby beds, nets and clothes from them.

One of the pregnant women, Victoria Inyang, thanked the club for the mother and baby care packs.

The Nigeria COVID-19 summit has stressed the need for Nigeria to galvanise other nations to call for debt relief so that resources can be channelled towards building the national bio-security and ensuring Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The summit also called for improved partnership in primary healthcare delivery and vaccination uptake, strengthening the collaboration between national and sub-national entities, and pursuing the "One Health" Strategy and the requirements under the International Health Regulation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also called on stakeholders across blocs to support the cause. The World Bank and IMF have warned that poor vaccination in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) is a major obstacle to the recovery of the sub-Saharan African economy, and that the emergence of the Omicron variant has global implications. The global community has been debating patent-free COVID-19 vaccines and the need to democratise the process to allow African countries to produce vaccines to catch up with the rest of the world.

Meedical doctors in cross river, on sunday began an indfinite strike in solidarity with one of their colleagues  abducted on Thursday from her residence in calabar. The doctors announcedv the strike in a communique issued after their emergency general meeting on sunday in calabar .The communique issued signed by the chairman  of the Nigerian medical Association, crossRiver branch ,Dr

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that 122 people have lost their lives due to a diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria. As of July 2023, 3,850 suspected cases were reported, with 1,387 confirmed cases. The disease has claimed 122 lives, with a case fatality rate of 8.7%. The outbreak has affected mainly Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Lagos, FCT, Sokoto, and Zamfara, with 98.0% of the suspected cases occurring in these states. Only 22% of confirmed cases received routine childhood immunization vaccinations, and the need to reach the unreached is critical. UNICEF Nigeria is collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), affected states, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to plan and operationalize the response. Key interventions include transporting vaccines, training health workers, and providing face masks, hand sanitizers, and antibiotics. UNICEF urges parents and guardians to ensure their children receive routine immunizations to protect them from preventable diseases like diphtheria.

Five students have died of suspected diphtheria in the Jamaare Local Government Area of the Bauchi State The Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency,(BSPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Bauchi said out of 28 samples taken from Jammare, two were confirmed, adding that the agency was determined to act fast to curtail a possible spread of the disease.

Mohammed described the deaths of the students as unfortunate saying laboratory tests would confirm if they died of Diphtheria. Mohammed said vaccination would be given to prevent the disease, “We need to vaccinate children at six weeks and the good news is that the vaccination is free.” He further disclosed that all schools in the affected local government area had been closed as a precautionary measure to curtail any possible spread of the disease.

The Diphtheria outbreak continues to pose a huge threat to Nigerian communities, affecting children in 27 states and with no fewer than 137 deaths and 1,534 confirmed cases recorded between May 2022 and 2023.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Diphtheria Situation Report, on Tuesday, indicated that worst hits states in Nigeria were Kano and Yobe State, with Kano (1,055), Yobe (232), Kaduna (85), Katsina (58), Bauchi (47) and the Federal Capital Territory (18) accounting for 99.3 per cent of all suspected cases.

The latest report said a total of 1,506 suspected cases were reported from 11 states across 59 Local Government Areas, with 39 deaths recorded among all confirmed cases and a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 6.7 per cent. Cumulatively for May 2022 to July 2023, it said, “A total of 4,160 suspected cases have been reported from 27 states across 139 LGAs in the country. Kano (3,233), Yobe (477), Katsina (132), Kaduna (101), Bauchi (54), FCT (41) & Lagos (30) account for 97.8% of suspected cases.

An epidemic is looming in koko community, Ethiope west local government Area of Delta state, as bodies float in water at the scene of the sunday, october 1, fuel tanker explosion along the benin sapele road. Daily sun reports that two bodies have been pulled out of swamp while another has been identified. one of the sympathisers, who preferred anonymity, said  some bodies were recovered from the swamp the previous day while others yet to come up.The failed failed portions of this road has become a death trap for users of the road with little or no remedial efforts from any quarter.

An epidemic is looming in koko community, Ethiope west local government Area of Delta state, as bodies float in water at the scene of the sunday, october 1, fuel tanker explosion along the benin sapele road. Daily sun reports that two bodies have been pulled out of swamp while another has been identified. one of the sympathisers, who preferred anonymity, said  some bodies were recovered from the swamp the previous day while others yet to come up.The failed failed portions of this road has become a death trap for users of the road with little or no remedial efforts from any quarter.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Malam Muhammad Bello has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the Minister's chief press secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, on Friday. The statement said the Minister had mild symptoms of a sore throat, fever, and a mild runny nose on December 28 and had taken a COVID-19 test.

The federal government has reported an active diphtheria outbreak in 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in four states, including Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, and Kaduna. The Federal Ministry of Health is working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), states, and partners to effectively check the outbreak. A comprehensive response plan has been activated to ensure early detection, containment of cases, and preventing further transmission through a multi-phased response strategy. The 171 LGAs in 14 states are at high risk of further spread. The partnership aims to achieve intensified mass vaccination of identified populations at risk to curb the ongoing diphtheria outbreak. The immediate phase one response 5-days reactive catch-up campaign is planned for the affected 25 LGAs in four states from August 7th, targeting children under 14 years old. The full three rounds of the catch-up campaign are being prioritized in 14 states. The risk of death is higher in partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria has expressed concern over the continued rejection of gunshot victims by hospitals, which is against the provisions of the Gunshot Act 2017, which mandates all medical facilities to provide compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots and related matters. The ministry called on medical facilities to comply with the Act, noting that strategies are being put in place to ensure compliance by Nigerian healthcare facilities. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, stressed that gunshot victims must be attended to by hospitals because they come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention to save the life of the patient or victim. The ministry also urged the police to comply with and enforce the provisions of the Act with promptness.

Scientists have identified a new Coronavirus variant called IHU in France, which contains 46 mutations more than Omicron. It has been associated with Cameroun and is yet to be spotted in other countries or labelled a variant under investigation by the WHO. French health minister Olivier Veran has said that the country expects to see even higher daily counts of new COVID-19 infections in the coming days. U.S. epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding has identified a new variant of SARS CoV2 that is more contagious and could evade immunity. The variant was first identified in South Africa and Botswana in November last year and has spread to over 100 countries. The United States recorded more than one million cases on Monday, a global record, with the number of cases doubling on the previous week. Rates of death and hospitalisation have been far lower in recent weeks than during previous surges.

 A new COVID-19 variant discovered in 12 patients near Marseille, contains 46 mutations, making it more resistant to vaccines and infectious. It is yet to be spotted in other countries or labelled a variant under investigation by the World Health Organization. Omicron is the dominant coronavirus variant in France, leading to surging case numbers. To combat this, French MPs have proposed legislation that would require most people to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter public spaces such as bars, restaurants and long-distance public transport. The bill aims to replace the health pass with a vaccine pass, which would only allow people who are fully vaccinated to gain access to those venues.

 

 

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer GSK UK Group Plc has announced its intention to cease commercialization of prescription medicines and vaccines in Nigeria through its subsidiary, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria PLC. The statement stated that the GSK UK Group informed GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria PLC of its strategic intent to cease commercialization through local operating companies and transition to a third-party direct distribution model for pharmaceutical products. The Haleon Group also informed the Board of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc of its intent to terminate its distribution agreement and appoint a third-party distributor. The Board is working with professional advisors to agree on next steps and will submit a draft Scheme of Arrangement to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders are advised to seek professional advice and exercise caution when dealing in the company's shares until further announcements are made.

Private healthcare providers plan to withdraw from private health insurance from January 31 due to poor tariffs and debts. The president of the Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria blames the problem on economic crises and inflation, and is following up with HCPAN to discuss private health insurance. Delivery and post-natal were free.

kano state Governor, ABBA Yusfus has inaugrated the recovered Hasiya Bayero pediatric hosiptal ,which would offer generalpediatric services, surgery, child immunisation, nutritional services, research and training. Addressing a mammoth crowd yesterday, at the hospital premises, located at kano city  center, yusfus, lamented that the facility was abondoned, just as all the equipment were also stolen during the previous administration.

The Federal Government has urged all federal tertiary hospitals, Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) and Federal Specialist Hospitals across the country to key into the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) accreditation programme in order to deliver accurate laboratory test results. The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, disclosed this during the unveiling of MLSCN Accreditation Service as an Associate member of International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) and the presentation of a certificate of ISO 15189:2012 Accreditation to National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory Saye–Zaria, Kaduna State. The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the MLSCN, Dr Tosan Erhabor, emphasised the relevance of accreditation as a means of demonstrating technical competence.

NAFDAC has stopped the registration of alcohol in sachets and small volume Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass bottles below 200ml, and introduced other stringent regulatory measures to curb abuse of alcohol. Manufacturers of low volume alcohol beverages (200ml) have been directed to reformulate their products to stipulated standards free of charge. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has set up a task force to track and dismantle drug cartels behind the production and distribution of methamphetamine, popularly called Mkpuru Mmiri. This has resulted in the arrest of 12,306 suspects, conviction of 1,400 offenders, seizure of over 3.4 million kilograms of assorted drugs and cash worth over N130 billion, and counselling and rehabilitation of 7,761 drug users.

NAFDAC has stopped the registration of alcohol in sachets and small volume Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass bottles below 200ml, and introduced other stringent regulatory measures to curb abuse of alcohol. Manufacturers of low volume alcohol beverages (200ml) have been directed to reformulate their products to stipulated standards free of charge. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has set up a task force to track and dismantle drug cartels behind the production and distribution of methamphetamine, popularly called Mkpuru Mmiri. This has resulted in the arrest of 12,306 suspects, conviction of 1,400 offenders, seizure of over 3.4 million kilograms of assorted drugs and cash worth over N130 billion, and counselling and rehabilitation of 7,761 drug users.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is working to eliminate trans-fats from food, as part of efforts to reduce Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and deaths. The revised Fats, Oil, and Food containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022 and Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022 aim to reduce the number of NCDs and deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends two policy pathways for implementation: banning partially hydrogenated oils, which are the source of industrially produced trans-fatty acids, and setting limits on the amount of industrially produced TFAs to less than 2% of the total fat content in all foods. The agency is collaborating with the Network for Health Equity and Development, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, GHAI, and GHAI to combat risk factors of NCDs.

Moves by the National Assembly to outlaw strike in the health sector through a bill has been condermned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (AHPA) and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The bill, titled: "An Act to amend the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to prohibit medical practioners in the employment of federal, state, and local governments in the essential service sectors from embarking on strikes and to accelerate administrative and judicial proceedings in the determination of trade disputes involving them and related matters", is sponsored by a member of the House representing Enugu State, Simon Atige. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said "It is laughable, where industrial relations are working optimally, strikes can be avoided and therefore, this is the provision of the law and I am sure that those proposing the bill are not aware of those laws, and those laws are very explicit".

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Assembly Healthcare Professionals (AHPA), and Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors have all denounced the National Assembly's attempt to criminalize strikes in the health sector. They called the legislation draconian and it has already passed the House of Representatives' first reading. The Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, was amended by the proposed law, An Act to amend the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to forbid medical professionals employed by federal, state, and local governments in essential service sectors from going on strike and to quicken administrative and judicial processes for resolving trade disputes involving them and related issues.

The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) announced that its partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to support vaccination of one million Nigerians in Adamawa, Edo, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa and Ogun States by January 2022 has resulted in the vaccination of 1,651,278 people, exceeding the target by over 60%. NSSF is a private-sector-led institution founded by Global Citizen and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through fundraising to address three core COVID-19 response areas: supporting the most vulnerable, strengthening health care systems and re-skilling of Nigerian youth. NSSF is governed by a statutory board of experienced members.

The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) announced that its partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to support vaccination of one million Nigerians in Adamawa, Edo, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa and Ogun States by January 2022 has resulted in the vaccination of 1,651,278 people, exceeding the target by over 60%. NSSF is a private-sector-led institution founded by Global Citizen and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through fundraising to address three core COVID-19 response areas: supporting the most vulnerable, strengthening health care systems and re-skilling of Nigerian youth. NSSF is governed by a statutory board of experienced members.

A man whose kidneys have reached their last stages To receive a kidney transplant at St. Nicholas Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, Fatai Jimoh Opayemi is seeking N9 million. Opayemi, a diabetic and hypertensive patient, is receiving continuous hemodialysis. He will also require a qualified donor who isn't more than 65 years old or younger, the hospital remarked in response to the medical diagnostic. Contributions can be made to the following Bank UBA account: Fatai OPayemiJimoh, 2229685587, or by calling his daughter at 08024727338.

The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, at exactly noon yesterday, made good its threat as members complied with the indefinite strike order issued by the National Executive Council, NEC, on Tuesday night.NARD embarked on the strike, despite the intervention of speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night, urging him to wade into the matter, with a view to addressing the issues at stake.Although the Federal Government said it was already looking into the demands of the striking resident doctors towards effecting a speedy resolution, NARD said the government was yet to call them for a meeting, insisting that government’s response would determine how long the strike would last.As of 12:30 pm when Vanguard visited some of the affected tertiary health institutions in Lagos yesterday, the doctors had left their consulting rooms, as only consultants and student doctors were attending to a few patients that were caught unawares by the industrial action.While most of the patients who spoke to Vanguard said they had already been attended to before 12 noon, others bemoaned the fact that they were not able to beat the time of the strike and were asked to come back next time.“We know the peculiarities and the dangers in the declaration of strike. But, I am sorry that this is the only language government understands.”

The Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), Niger Delta chapter, has demanded the immediate payment of $3.4billion fine from Shell for the Shell Bonga Oil Spill of December 20, 2011. A communiqué signed by Samuel Ayadi, coordinator of ARFAN Niger Delta and Chairman ARFAN, Akwa Ibom State, noted that the fines were upheld by the National Assembly and the Federal High Court in Lagos. The communiqué lamented that Shell's failure to comply had foisted great hardship on the fishermen on the coastal waters, leading to the untimely death of many of the members of the association.

Plateau Records One Case of Lassa Fever, Cautions Residents on Hygiene. Plateau State Government yesterday said it has recorded one case of Lassa fever in Jos North Local Government Area of the state, and therefore, cautioned the residents to take their hygiene seriously.

Resident Doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have declared an indefinite strike over dispute with the federal government on salary and welfare matters. A former president of NARD, Dr. Godiya Ishaya confirmed the development to THISDAY, last night, in a telephone message. “It’s true NARD has declared a total and indefinite strike action,” he said. The association is insisting that the government should address all its six point demands, failing which it would no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide. Among the demands of the doctors were the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF as contained in the approved 2023 budget in line with various agreements reached with the government, that the government should without further delay, pay all outstanding arrears owed members including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears of 2014-2016, and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage, arguing that there was no justifiable reason to keep owing the arrears and allowances. The NEC of NARD also insisted on the immediate implementation of minimum of 200 percent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances as requested in her previous letters on the subject matter, adding that the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment.

The severe burden that physicians and nurses are under as a result of a staffing shortage at the hospital has been dubbed challenging and worrying by the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja branch. The doctors' spokesperson, Dr. Akinbami Adeola, made this disclosure while on a courtesy visit to the hospital in Lokoja. According to Dr. Adeola, the association had alerted the hospital's administration to their plight and the need for more help to stop this ugly situation, but nothing had been done.

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has urged the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend their planned strike and allow the Green Chamber to intervene in their dispute with the Federal Government. The NARD had embarked on a warning strike before the inauguration of the Tinubu administration, demanding a 200-percent increase in salaries and allowances, payment of salary arrears, implementation of the CONMEAS salary structure, new hazard allowance, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and payment of medical residency training funds to its members in state tertiary health facilities. After suspending the strike, the doctors issued a fresh two-week ultimatum for the government to meet its demands. Abbas said the doctors' decision to meet with the House showed their faith and confidence in the lawmakers' capacity to intervene and resolve the lingering dispute. He set up an ad hoc committee chaired by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere to address the issues raised by the NARD and give the House leadership two weeks to find solutions.

Since the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was detected, From discriminatory travel bans to limited access to vaccines, African countries are bearing the burden of this inequity. The United States and Canada have also reported destroying out-of-date vaccines. Risk of emerging variants and more, and all possible solutions explored. Including countries donating doses, By doing this, with planning. But Nigeria must also leverage scientific capacity in making decisions. Rather than destroying doses, community leadership is essential to building confidence. Rather than trading blame,.

Dr. Monday Ubani, the Nigerian Bar Association's second Vice President and Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government and two others in Lagos over forced vaccination of civil servants. Ubani argues that the directive given by Mustapha to all Federal Civil Servants in Nigeria, requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test result within 72 hours, violates their constitutional rights to life, dignity, privacy, freedom from discrimination, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Ubani seeks redress and an order of perpetual injunction to prevent the directive from being implemented. He argues that every person has a constitutional right to object to medical treatment and that any directive for compulsory vaccination is unconstitutional. He also calls for the government to allow citizens to vaccinate freely and emphasizes that a constitutional right should not be compromised for effective public health intervention. Ubani believes that the best policy for the country is not to lower the guards in preventive measures, and any directive on compulsory vaccination is immature, needless, and unacceptable.