Category: Health

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to standardising its healthcare system while ensuring lifelong welfare support for serving personnel and veterans. General Shaibu made this known on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), Surgeon Rear Admiral Azeeze Bayo Afolayan (Rtd), during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters. He stressed that the optimisation of medical services within the Army depends largely on the integration of standardised administrative…

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Community Food Bank Trust Fund and inaugurated its Board of Trustees, committing the sum of N500 million to support the initiative aimed at strengthening food security and reducing malnutrition across the country. Speaking at the launch held at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, 2 April 2026, Senator Tinubu expressed delight at the growing support for efforts to improve access to nutritious food for vulnerable households, particularly children under 16. She stressed that child malnutrition…

Nigeria will host a high-level health security dialogue with the People’s Republic of China on Monday, 30 March 2026, aimed at enhancing pandemic preparedness and response. The event, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, will convene senior government officials, global health institutions, policymakers, and scientists from both countries. Titled “Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Insights from China and Nigeria,” the dialogue comes as nations continue to strengthen their defenses against future health threats in the wake of COVID-19. It is expected to provide a platform…

The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of over N32 billion under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) to strengthen primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across Nigeria, as part of efforts to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare. The approval was granted at the 14th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting and the first quarter 2026 session of the BHCPF, held on March 24, 2026, in Abuja. The BHCPF serves as a key financing mechanism of the Federal Government aimed at ensuring predictable funding, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and expanding access…

Jehovah’s Witnesses have issued a significant clarification on their long-standing position on blood transfusions, granting members the freedom to decide whether their own blood can be used during surgery or medical procedures. The announcement was made in a video statement by Gerrit Lösch, who explained that the update is intended to allow Christians to make personal decisions regarding the handling of their own blood in medical settings. He reiterated that while abstaining from blood remains a core doctrinal principle, the Bible does not specifically address the use of one’s own…

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening oral healthcare services across Nigeria as the country joined the global community to commemorate the World Oral Health Day 2026. Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the commemoration, themed “A happy mouth is a happy life,” as a reminder of the importance of adopting simple daily oral hygiene practices and promoting awareness of oral health as a key component of overall wellbeing. Represented by the Director…

Nigeria has called for the full integration of its diaspora health professionals into both national and global health strategies as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and address workforce challenges. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 United Kingdom Global Health Summit held at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Salako noted that Nigeria’s diaspora health workforce estimated at over 150,000 professionals worldwide represented a vast pool of expertise, networks, and investment potential…

More than 150 journalists in the nation’s capital have been enrolled in the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), marking a major step toward improving healthcare access for media professionals in Abuja. The development came as the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, and the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahya, called on philanthropists, political office holders, religious leaders and business leaders to support journalists by sponsoring health insurance coverage for them. The initiative, championed by the Chairman…

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services across the country following the successful management of a complex quadruplet delivery at the Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta. The delivery involved Mrs. Mufiat Olateju, who was referred to the tertiary health facility while already in labour. Medical personnel at the hospital responded swiftly to the high-risk situation and successfully delivered the quadruplets while stabilising both the mother and the newborns. The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who was briefed…

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to tackle glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, through strategic frameworks and nationwide awareness initiatives. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the pledge during a press briefing to mark the 2026 World Glaucoma Week in Abuja. Dr. Salako highlighted the government’s focus on integrated eye care across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels, under the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan 2024–2028. He announced the launch of the Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkit, aimed…