Despite the availability of anti-malaria medications and preventive measures, many Nigerians continue to suffer from recurring malaria attacks, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current treatments.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In 2023, Nigeria accounted for a staggering 27% of global malaria-related deaths, underscoring the country’s ongoing battle with the disease. This alarming statistic highlights the persistent nature of malaria in Nigeria, despite efforts to combat it through the distribution of drugs and public health initiatives.

On this World Malaria Day, experts are focusing on why malaria remains so widespread, even as treatments and preventive measures are accessible. The issue of treatment resistance, the prevalence of fake anti-malaria drugs in circulation, and inadequate health infrastructure are some of the factors contributing to the crisis.

During a special episode of Nigeria Daily, experts discussed how the persistence of malaria challenges the country’s health system and called for stronger measures to ensure the effective treatment and eradication of the disease. The episode further examined the role of both the government and private sectors in tackling malaria and improving public health outcomes.

With malaria continuing to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, experts emphasized the importance of prioritizing comprehensive health strategies to address the root causes of the disease’s persistence.

The Lagos State Government has raised concerns over a severe shortage of healthcare personnel, disclosing that the state urgently needs 66,000 additional professionals—comprising 33,000 doctors and 33,000 nurses—to adequately serve its estimated 30 million residents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This revelation was made by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, during a media briefing commemorating the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Prof. Abayomi lamented that Lagos currently has only about 7,000 doctors attending to its massive population, which falls significantly short of the required workforce for efficient and quality healthcare delivery.

To mitigate the shortfall, the commissioner highlighted the state’s strategic investment in the recently established University of Medicine and Health (UMH). He noted that within the next five years, the institution is expected to produce approximately 2,500 health professionals annually, including laboratory scientists and other essential support staff.

He also pointed out that enrollment in the state’s health insurance scheme remains critically low. Of the entire registered population, just 1,252,959 individuals—only 4.17%—are covered, with 419 healthcare facilities currently participating in the scheme.

However, Prof. Abayomi expressed optimism that the newly enforced mandatory health insurance policy would significantly improve healthcare financing and expand coverage across Lagos.

Providing an update on healthcare infrastructure projects, the commissioner revealed that the 150-bed Massey Street Children’s Specialist Hospital has reached 70% completion. Additionally, the 280-bed General Hospital and accompanying staff quarters in Iba, Ojo, are 75% completed, while the Mental Health Institute in Epe is at 65%. All three facilities are scheduled for commissioning by April 2026.

He also shared key public health statistics, stating that 135,224 residents are currently living with HIV. In response, the state has mobilized over 100 religious leaders as advocates in the campaign against HIV/AIDS. Meanwhile, 154,228 women have benefited from free cervical cancer screenings, with 8,613 receiving thermal ablation treatment.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has confirmed the detection of 17 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2) across 15 local government areas in eight states in Nigeria this year.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, disclosed this during the agency’s first-quarter media briefing in Abuja. He pointed out that while Nigeria was declared free of the Wild Polio Virus (WPV) in 2020, the country has since been grappling with the spread of the cVPV2, a mutated version of the virus that began circulating in 2021.

Out of the 17 cases reported, 12 are linked to Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), while five were detected in Environmental Sites (ES). Dr. Aina emphasized that these findings indicate ongoing transmission of the virus, underlining the urgency of halting its spread.

To tackle this, NPHCDA has implemented a strategic shift in key aspects of the national polio campaign, including enhancing the selection of vaccination teams, boosting demand for immunization, improving supervision, and ensuring greater accountability.

Aina also highlighted a significant improvement in the usage of primary health care centers across the country, noting that over 20 million patient encounters were recorded per quarter, a sharp increase from previous years. He revealed that by June 2024, NPHCDA had retrained 60,470 frontline health workers, aiming for a target of 120,000 by the end of the current administration.

Additionally, in 2024, NPHCDA disbursed N22 billion from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) to various states, with plans to significantly increase the funding this year. This includes expanding the number of BHCPF-supported primary health care centers from 8,406 to 17,600 over the next four years.