The Kebbi government has confirmed that 26 people have died following a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The three local governments are Aliero, Gwandu and Jega.
Details later…
Category: Health
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Sokoto warns against spread of meningitis as state records outbreak
SOKOTO – The Sokoto State Ministry of Health has issued a warning urging residents to remain vigilant following a rising number of meningitis cases in several local government areas.
In a statement on Tuesday, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar Wurno, emphasized the need for heightened awareness after laboratory tests confirmed that many of the suspected cases were indeed meningitis.
He stated that the ministry has intensified surveillance, case management, and public health interventions to curb the spread of the disease.
Dr. Abubakar urged residents to take precautionary measures, including:
Seeking immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility if experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, or any unusual signs.
Maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene.
Avoiding crowded places and ensuring proper ventilation in homes and public spaces.
He also called on citizens to promptly report suspected cases or any unusual illnesses to the nearest hospital.
In response to the outbreak, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has ensured the provision of necessary medications to health facilities across the state.
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Plastic surgery: Smaller breasts in high demand, as internal bras gain popularity
According to data from RealSelf, an online resource for people exploring cosmetic treatments and providers, in its quarterly Real Talk Report, smaller or downsized breasts and internal bras, which is a specialized breast lift surgery, are common patient requests.
It was noted that patients want a natural look, including enhanced support and comfort, lower implant complication rates, and perkier, more naturally shaped breasts that look proportionate to their frame, especially if they’re focused on fitness.
From findings, smaller breasts have always been a big request – among women seeking breast augmentation surgery even as the desire to downsize is a reflection of celebrity trends. Patients are opting for an internal bra, because of its ability to provide enhanced support and improve the long-term stability of the implants.
The internal bra, typically made of surgical mesh or similar materials, helps to prevent implants from dropping or shifting over time, offering a more secure and natural shape.
The added support can reduce the risk of complications such as implant displacement or bottoming out, ensuring the breasts maintain their position and contour.
The internal bra can also provide a firmer, more youthful look and feel. It is a material placed to support breast tissue or an implant that’s secured along the ribs and is sometimes done during a reduction.
It also doesn’t necessitate future adjustments or surgeries, which has made it a more popular option for women who don’t want to go under the knife again in the future.
Some patients are opting to downsize their current breast implants, especially if their larger implants are causing back and neck pain or skin stretching. It’s not just about breast augmentation surgery with a smaller cup size.
There’s also a popular alternative that’s non-surgical and promises minimal to no downtime that’s all the rage with influencers in New York City.
New York City’s Cleavage Clinic offers a ‘natural approach to achieve larger and lifted breasts’ using procedures including PRP, PRF, EZ Gel, Morpheus8, and Sculptra
The Cleavage Clinic offers a natural approach to achieve larger and lifted breasts using procedures including PRP, PRF, EZ Gel, Morpheus8, and Sculptra.
These procedures enhance or lift client’s breasts in three sessions for a fraction of the cost of invasive surgery.
The clinic recently opened and is the first and only non-surgical breast enhancement medical facility, which has proven wildly popular with influencers who take their followers behind-the-scenes.
The microneedling procedures provide a subtle lift but still allows women to keep their smaller, perky breasts.
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Pope marks three weeks in hospital, releases audio message
Pope Francis marked three weeks battling double pneumonia in hospital on Friday, reported by the Vatican to be “stable” but sounding weak and breathless in his first audio message.
The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church has not been seen in public since his admission to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 and has suffered several respiratory crises, the most recent on Monday.
Amid growing concern and increasingly lurid speculation online, the Holy See on Thursday released a short audio message recorded that day by Francis, the first time his voice has been heard in weeks.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square. I accompany you from here,” he said, sounding weak and taking laboured breaths, with some words fading away into nothing.
“May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you,” the Argentine said in his native Spanish.
The message was broadcast in Saint Peter’s Square, where prayers have been held every evening for the pope, and applause broke out among the hundreds of pilgrims gathered there.
“We were very happy that he could speak,” said John Maloney, a 76-year-old English pilgrim visiting Rome for the 2025 Jubilee holy year celebrations.
“It’s a good sign that he’s actually able to speak,” he told AFP, adding: “He’s got a long way to go so he’s in the hands of God.”
But for Claudia Bianchi, a 50-year-old Italian from Rome, “it struck me to hear him so tired”.
– ‘Good sign’ –
The pope’s message was on the front page of many of Italy’s newspapers, who reported that it was an attempt by the Vatican to battle fake news about the pontiff’s deterioration or even death.
They noted the weakness of his voice, with the Corriere della Sera daily describing it as “pained”.
“It was a positive sign, so it gives us hope that he still has the strength to speak. And he always seems to want to be with us,” Alessandra Dalboni, a 53-year-old Rome local, told AFP on Thursday evening.
The Vatican said earlier on Thursday that Francis, who will mark 12 years as pontiff next week, was in a “stable” condition, with no repeat of Monday’s respiratory failure.
It said that “in view of the stability of the clinical picture”, there would be no medical bulletin on Friday evening as in previous days.
The next is due on Saturday.
In a shift from a past lack of transparency, the Vatican has been publishing an update on how the pope slept every morning, followed by a more detailed medical bulletin each evening.
On Friday morning, it provided the usual brief update, saying Francis “passed a calm night and woke up shortly after 8:00am (0700 GMT)”.
On Thursday night, the Vatican said he had continued with his breathing exercises and physiotherapy, did not have a fever and managed to do a bit of work.
– Prognosis reserved –
Nonetheless, “the doctors are still maintaining a reserved prognosis”, it said, meaning they will not say how they expect his condition to evolve.
During previous hospitalisations, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics appeared on the Gemelli balcony for his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer.
But he has missed the last three, and no announcement has yet been made about whether he will make an appearance this weekend.
The pope has suffered a series of health issues in recent years, from colon surgery in 2021 to a hernia operation in 2023, but this is the longest and most serious hospitalisation of his papacy.
He was initially diagnosed with bronchitis but it developed into pneumonia in both lungs and he has suffered three days of breathing crisis.
On February 22, he suffered a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis” and on February 28 had “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” — a tightening of the muscles that line the airways in the lungs.
On Monday March 3, Francis “experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure, caused by a significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm”, the Vatican said.
Francis’s health has regularly led to speculation, particularly among his critics, as to whether he could resign like his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
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ECOWAS calls for action against Lassa fever
The Economic Community of West African States, through its specialised health institution, the West African Health Organisation has urged researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to contribute to strengthening regional health security against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
WAHO made the call on Friday in a statement while announcing the second Lassa Fever International Conference which will hold in September 2025, in Côte d’Ivoire.
The conference with the theme, “Beyond borders: Strengthening regional cooperation to combat Lassa Fever and emerging infectious diseases,” is aimed at advancing sustainable preparedness and regional coordination for Lassa fever through enhanced research and development capacity, improved outbreak management systems, and multisectoral collaboration.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa, with Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea among the most affected countries. Since its discovery, the disease has exposed critical weaknesses in the region’s health systems.
So far in 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 506 Lassa fever cases out of the 2,492 suspected cases, and 95 deaths.
WAHO noted that despite being classified as a priority disease by the World Health Organisation, Lassa fever outbreaks follow a recurring pattern of temporary containment followed by fresh outbreaks, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable preparedness that focuses not only on response but also on research, coordination, and stronger health systems.
“Building on the foundation laid during the first edition hosted by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in Abuja in 2019, the 2025 edition will bring together policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders to foster regional coordination, share scientific progress, including promising Lassa vaccine candidates entering clinical trials, and shape a more sustainable and collaborative approach to Lassa fever prevention and control across West Africa.
“No single country can address challenges posed by Lassa fever and emerging infectious diseases alone, as globalisation, faster travel, and frequent cross-border movements have significantly increased the spread of infectious diseases across borders. Countries can significantly improve their response speed and effectiveness by sharing data, resources, and expertise. This collaborative approach will reduce Lassa fever’s impact, and enhance regional health security,” it stated.
According to the Director General of WAHO, Dr Melchior AÏSSI, “Lassa fever remains a persistent threat to our populations, severely impacting our lives, health, and economic systems. Endemic in several West African countries, it causes between 100,000 and 300,000 infections each year, with around 5,000 deaths. Recent predictions indicate that factors such as climate change could put up to 600 million people at risk of contracting Lassa fever. This projection underlines the need for increased vigilance and preparedness.”
Lassa Disease Programme Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Dr Katrin Ramsauer said, “The world has made great progress in recent years in the fight against Lassa fever. This upcoming conference is an important moment for scientists and global health experts to come together, under WAHO’s leadership, to both share new knowledge about the disease and spot the remaining research gaps where we need to act. Their discussions
will help shape the Lassa fever research agenda in years to come which is set to have a direct impact on our future response to Lassa fever outbreaks – now becoming larger and more frequent as climate change and population growth in the region continue.”It noted that the conference will feature diverse sessions, including plenary discussions led by regional and international health leaders and key partners to explore financing
mechanisms, cross-border and multisectoral coordination, panel discussions on vaccine research, community surveillance, and parallel sessions that offer deep dives into
operational research, and environmental topics. -
FG set to review national policy on food, nutrition
The Federal Government of Nigeria is planning to review the National Policy on Food and Nutrition due to emerging issues in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, made this known yesterday during a meeting with relevant Stakeholders drawn from the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Health and Social Welfare, Innovation, Science and Technology, Water Resources, Women Affairs and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Abuja.
Dr. Obi noted that the current national policy on food and nutrition, which the Federal Executive Council approved in April, serves as a 10-year blueprint for ensuring food and nutrition security in Nigeria.
He also posited that the National Policy on Food and Nutrition will address the multifaceted problem of food and nutrition using a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary programme approach.
According to him, the programme to be derived from this policy is expected to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition by alleviating poverty through increased access to productive resources, increased incomes, and enhanced standards of living.
Obi reiterated that the Food and Nutrition Policy document is intended to serve as a framework to guide the identification and development of intervention programmes and address the problems of food and nutrition across different sectors and different levels of Nigerian society, from the individual, household and community to and including the national level.
He also said that implementing the policy shall involve sectoral ministries, the private sector, individuals, families, communities, community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies.
Obi, therefore, called on the Stakeholders to review the present document, the methodology, and the roadmap, noting that their contributions will assist in producing an improved document that will positively impact Nigerians. He also noted that new opportunities would be explored for resource mobilization in preparation for the proposed Nutrition Investment Fund (NIF) to address malnutrition in the country.
The Country Director GAIN, Mr. Michael Ojo, emphasized the strategic importance of partnerships in advancing the state of nutrition in Nigeria and thus reaffirmed GAIN’s commitment to supporting the ongoing process and expressed hope that at the end of the policy review, the nutrition challenges facing the nation, will be addressed.
The Stakeholders stressed the need to include emerging issues such as the impact of Climate Change on Nutrition, Water and sanitation, poverty, economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, insecurity, and the N774 initiative. The meeting was graced by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Kachallom Daju mni, while Directors represented other Ministries in the various Ministries.
The mandate of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning with regard to the National Food and Nutrition Policy and its programmes are: (a) to serve as the focal point for the coordination and harmonization of all food and nutrition-related policies and programmes being implemented by various ministries and agencies into a national programme consistent with the goals and aspirations outlined in the policy document; (b) to provide a forum for the exchange of views and experiences among the bodies implementing nutrition programmes in Nigeria.
The mandate includes coordinating the continuous review of policies and programmes regarding their potential impact on food and nutrition issues.
Recall that the present policy document on Food and Nutrition was produced in 2016.
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NAFDAC reopens Onitsha drug market after weeks of operation
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reopened the Onitsha drug market on March 6 following a sanitisation operation that began on February 10.
Dr Martin Iluyomade, Director of Enugu Zone Zonal Operations, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting between NAFDAC, Anambra representatives, and Onitsha market leadership on Thursday.
Other affected markets included the Plumbing, Wood, Science Progressive, and Surgical markets.
Iluyomade clarified that the reopening was not meant to punish neighbouring markets, which had unfortunately become major warehouse locations for medicine traders.
He emphasised that the operation was a result of extensive intelligence gathering, and the closure had been necessary to avoid confrontation with traders.
“The discovery in the market was alarming, with the recovery of large quantities of narcotics capable of destabilising any nation.
“We found fake and counterfeit medicines in more than 50 trailers, along with banned medicines dating back to 2007,” Iluyomade said.
While the market had been reopened, owners of around 4,000 shops that were profiled and suspended must visit NAFDAC individually to clear themselves.
Iluyomade also highlighted poor storage conditions that compromised the quality of genuine medicines in the market.
He thanked Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for his support and his commitment to building a standard drug market with proper storage conditions.
Mr Ndubuisi Chukwulota, Chairman of the Ogbo Ogwu Traders Association, expressed gratitude to NAFDAC for reopening the market and pledged to cooperate in eradicating fake drugs.
Dr Afam Obidike, Anambra’s Commissioner for Health, commended both NAFDAC and the traders for their cooperation and promised continued collaboration to ensure the system remains sanitised.(NAN)
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Pharmacy Council rejects counterfeit drug allegations
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has dismissed a media report alleging its involvement in counterfeit drug distribution, calling the claims “unfounded” and a “gross misrepresentation.”
The PCN is demanding an immediate retraction and public apology from the television outfit, accusing the station of violating broadcasting codes and damaging the council’s reputation.
In a strongly worded statement made available to Vanguard, the PCN clarified that comments made by the Director-General of NAFDAC, which formed the basis of the report, were taken out of context. They emphasised their ongoing collaboration with NAFDAC in combating illegal drug sales, citing the closure of major open drug markets as evidence of their commitment.
The PCN further highlighted its extensive enforcement efforts, including the closure of over 50,000 illegal drug outlets nationwide. The council is now urging NAFDAC to publicly clarify the matter and correct the misinformation.
The PCN maintained that the report titled “NAFDAC Implicates Pharmacy Council of Nigeria In Fake Medicines”, is a gross misrepresentation of the remarks made by the director general of NAFDAC during a press interview aired on March 1, 2025.
According to the press statement signed by the Registrar/ CEO of PCN, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, the Council insisted that the director general’s comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
According to the PCN, a careful review of the interview confirms that at no point did the NAFDAC director-general accuse the Council of any wrongdoing. Instead, the interview underscored the complementary roles of both agencies in regulating medicines and combating counterfeit drugs.
The director general also provided historical context regarding the regulation of Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs), highlighting past inconsistencies that contributed to challenges in drug distribution.
The PCN emphasised its longstanding collaboration with NAFDAC, citing their joint efforts in shutting down illegal drug markets, including the recent closure of the Sabon Gari Open Drug Market (ODM) in Kano and the relocation of vendors to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC). The Council further detailed its achievements in tackling unregulated medicine sales, including the closure of over 50,000 illegal drug outlets nationwide.
Expressing disappointment in the reportage, the PCN demanded an immediate retraction of the misleading headline and a public apology from the television station. It also called on the media to adhere to ethical journalism standards, particularly when reporting on matters of public health.
The Council however reassured Nigerians of its commitment to ensuring safe and effective pharmaceutical services while continuing its collaborative efforts with NAFDAC and other stakeholders to protect public health.
Meanwhile, the PCN expects that NAFDAC’s director general will clarify the misinformation, urging the public to rely on factual reports rather than misleading headlines.
The statement reads in part: “The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has taken notice of a misleading report by Africa Independent Television (AIT) with the headline “NAFDAC Implicates Pharmacy Council Of Nigeria In Fake Medicines”. This headline is a gross misrepresentation of the information conveyed during a press interview by the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) aired on Saturday, 1 March 2025.”
Every attentive listener with a proper understanding of the communication by the DG will realise that the broadcast station has erred. This unfortunate action of the television station contradicts the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (6th Edition, 2016), specifically Section 5.0, subsection 5.1.2:
“The PCN is taken aback by the unprofessional act from one of the foremost television stations in this misrepresentation of facts.
We expect an immediate retraction and a public apology.
“For emphasis, in the said press interview, the content of which is available in public domain, the director general did not in any way implicate the PCN in any wrongdoing whatsoever. Apart from highlighting the complementary role of both agencies, the DG further delved into the historical perspective of how the Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs), which were created by statute to be a stop-gap to provide over-the-counter medicines in underserved areas, later became a problem as a result of the inconsistencies in the delegation of authority for regulating the PPMVs, as well as litigations that followed same.
“The PCN appreciates the collaborative relationship with NAFDAC, which resulted in the closure of the Sabon Gari Open Drug Market in Kano and the relocation of the same to the Coordinated Wholesales Centre (CWC). Let it be on record that the establishment of CWC, being an alternative facility where the marketers are moved to, rests squarely with the PCN. The Council has never relented in pursuing this goal jointly with NAFDAC.
“Putting the DG’s interview in proper perspective, it can only be appropriately interpreted as the DG recognising that the Open Drug Market ought not to have been created in the first instance, except for the removal of regulation of the PPMVs from PCN at various times during which it was given to the States and later to the 774 local government councils. All these anomalies of the past led to the degradation of the system, even before the authority was finally reverted to PCN by the Federal Government.
“Many took advantage of the situation during the era that the inconsistencies existed and erroneously assumed that medicine vending is a form of trade and means of livelihood, thereby ushering in the chaotic situation that persisted for a long time.”
The statement further reads, “This was in addition to a myriad of litigations at the instance of the medicine vendors, which were finally tackled by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria in 2017, after which the Council resumed full-scale enforcement on illegal shops and premises. It is worthy of note that the passage of the PCN Act 2022 and regulations made thereunder contributed in no small measure to strengthening the pharmaceutical regulatory process in the country.
“Between then and now, our enforcement activity has led to the closure of over 50,000 illegal medicine facilities, in addition to the closure of Sabon Gari Open Drug Market where 1,321 illegal premises were dislodged, as well as the closure of Gombe Open Drug Market and Kaduna, singlehandedly by PCN. PCN is also closely collaborating with NAFDAC in the ongoing enforcement to ensure compliance with regulatory standards in the Open Drug Markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba.”
In addition, the statement reads, “The PCN plays a critical role in the promotion of public health at all times. Only last week, our officers embarked on a comprehensive surveillance operation in the FCT during which they visited 230 Estates to close down all illegal premises and three PPMVs in these locations. We will continue to work collaboratively with NAFDAC and other stakeholders to achieve this goal. Our distinct but complementary mandates are critical in ensuring the safety and well-being of the Nigerian public. While NAFDAC is responsible for drug registration and product quality, the PCN is responsible for regulating and controlling the training and practice of pharmacy in all aspects and ramifications, including pharmacy technicians and patent and proprietary medicines vendors. -
Ogun shuts four firms over industrial accidents, safety violations
The Ogun State Government has shut down four companies over industrial accidents and safety violations, including Quantum Steel Industry in Ogijo and Xinfeng Plastics Limited along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Farook Akintunde, who also chairs the State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, said the closure was necessary to investigate the incidents and prevent future occurrences.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, Quantum Steel was shut down following an industrial explosion that resulted in fatalities, with some victims still receiving treatment in the hospital.
Similarly, Xinfeng Plastics was sealed after a machine operator, Ishaku Monday, was electrocuted while operating a machine.
Akintunde expressed disappointment that despite regular government inspections and safety sensitization, such fatal incidents still occurred.
“As a government, we are committed to conducting a thorough and credible investigation, including engaging external safety experts to determine the root causes of these incidents in the overriding public interest and safety,” he said.
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Pope resting after ‘peaceful night’ – Vatican
Pope Francis was “resting” Thursday after spending a “peaceful night”, as he nears three weeks in hospital with pneumonia, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old had used an oxygen mask overnight for a third time, the Holy See said.
The pontiff was hospitalised on February 14 at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with breathing difficulties but is now battling pneumonia in both lungs.
Francis missed the formal Ash Wednesday celebrations in Rome marking the start of Lent, but took part in a blessing in the private suite reserved for popes on the 10th floor of the Gemelli.
Christians across the globe, celebrating Ash Wednesday, prayed for the pontiff’s recovery, including in his native Argentina.
Francis, leader of the world’s almost 1.4 billion Catholics, has not been seen in public since his hospitalisation, nor has the Vatican issued any photos, although he has published several texts.