Nigeria News

Port Harcourt, 28 April 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative (WR), Dr Rui Gama Vaz is in Rivers state to meet with His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike and engage the political leadership in strengthening health systems and for the attainment of   the Organization’s reform agenda.

Abuja, 09 May 2016 - The African Vaccination Week (AVW) ended in Nigeria with World Health Organization (WHO) calling on the Federal and State Governments to improve immunization and surveillance activities in conflict affected areas of the North East and at international borders. This call was made by the WHO Country Representative (WR) Dr Rui Gama Vaz at the official launch of the AVW in Abuja.

Abuja, 10 May 2016 - Having interrupted the transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus in 2015 and put in place measures to further improve and sustain certification standard surveillance; Nigeria has now embarked on efforts towards ensuring adequate documentation of surveillance and immunization activities towards certification.

Abuja, 16 May, 2016 – Today, the Government of Canada, through the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced a contribution of $19.9 million towards the eradication of polio in Nigeria. The grant, which will be implemented during the period 2016/17 – 2020 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is expected to sustain the polio eradication gains through strengthened routine immunization (RI). The project will help immunize approximately 6.6 million girls and 6.9 million boys against polio in 11 high risk Nigerian states.

Maiduguri, 24 May 2015 - The abduction of the Chibok school girls of Borno State in April 2014 brought the erstwhile quiet community into international limelight while at the same time creating a major health deficit in the lives of the people. The attack left the community ransacked, with all of the 18 health facilities in the Local Government Area (LGA) devastated and incapable of providing the most basic healthcare services. Health workers abandoned their posts for fear of attacks, lack of access into and out of the community and the absence of any dependable security network.

Kaduna, 29 May 2016 - Traditional leaders in northern Nigeria have once more taken up the task to optimize resources at their disposal to fast-track the delivery of primary health care (PHC) services under-one-roof model as well as reinforce community trust and create demand for immunization through the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on PHC (NTLC). The position of the Royal Fathers was articulated in the speech of Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, Chairman of NTLC and Emir of Bama, during the first quarter review meeting held in Kaduna on 24 May, 2016.

Abuja, 28 May 2016 - The United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Tuberculosis, Dr Eric Goosby has completed a working visit to Nigeria, and delivered a keynote address to stimulate private sector partnership during a 2-day National Tuberculosis Conference organised by the Nigeria Stop TB partnership with the theme, ‘Hidden Face of Tuberculosis’ from 16-19 May, 2016.  The wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Oshibajo and the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole graced the occasion.

Kaduna, 31 May 2016 - Kaduna State is working with partners, notably the World Health Organization (WHO), to put in place a plan that ensures investments in polio eradication do not dissipate into oblivion but rather contribute towards achievement of other public health interventions such as strengthening routine immunization (RI) and laying the groundwork for pursuing the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Minna, 02 June 2016 - As part of efforts to revitalize primary healthcare (PHC) and make health services accessible, affordable and equitable for all, the Niger State Government has launched an 8-point health reform agenda tagged ‘Niger Health 1.0’. The health reform will among other things ensure progressive realization of one fully functional PHC under-one-roof (PHCUOR), in every political ward over the next three (3) years.

Abuja, 14 June 2016 - The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire says that access to safe blood transfusion requires innovative strategies to ensure safe and sufficient blood supply, to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation and to ensure 100% quality-assured testing of donated blood. There is also a need to optimize blood usage for patient health, develop quality systems in the transfusion chain, strengthen the workforce, keep pace with new developments and build effective partnerships for safe blood.