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Category: Health

  • FCT doctors suspend warning strike, following Wike’s intervention

    FCT doctors suspend warning strike, following Wike’s intervention

    The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) has suspended its three-day warning strike after the intervention of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    The President of the Association, Dr. George Ebong, in a statement on Friday night said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the minister had met their demands.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that ARD-FCT had on Wednesday, Jan. 22, commenced a three-day warning strike to press home some demands from the FCTA.

    The strike grounded most the government hospitals in the FCT, as the doctors claimed that some of them employed in 2023 were yet to received some arrears, allowances, and other benefits.

    The doctors also listed the deplorable conditions of some the hospitals in the FCT, manpower shortage among other demands.

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    However, Ebong in the statement revealed that its members have started receiving the alerts of unpaid six-month salary arrears.

    The ARD-FCT President said that the Minister had approved, as well as ordered immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance owed members.

    He said that the Minister had also given approval for medical residency bonding training to 2 years; approval of immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers.

    Ebong said that the Minister had also given approval for payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were being owed, noting that “with the intervention of the Minister, doctors are expected to resume work with immediate effect.”

    He added that the intervention had also put an end to the impending indefinite shutdown of hospitals in Abuja, while urging the Minister to brace-up and meet other demands to avert future strike action.

    “On behalf of the executive members and the entire supreme congress of ARD-FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Minister for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands, thereby ending our warning strike.

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    “We also humbly plead with the Minister to put a mechanism in place to avoid a repeat of this anomaly. We are hopeful that other demands will be attended to in due time,” Ebong said.

    The ARD-FCTA President expressed the association’s believes in the capacity of the Minister to turn the FCT health sector around as a stakeholder in the renew hope agenda.

    Ebong also used the opportunity to invite the Minister to all the district hospitals in the FCT, while assuring him of doctors continued support in the realisation of the administration’s renew hope agenda.

  • Minister warns African women against skin bleaching

    Minister warns African women against skin bleaching

    Nigerian Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr. Iziaq Salako, while speaking at the regional awareness-raising workshop on banning lightening cosmetics held in Gabon has warned against harmful beauty standard.

    He said that the “Black is Beautiful” movement needs to be revived in order to celebrate Afrocentric beauty. 

    In a speech made available to Nigerian Anchor on Thursday, the minister urged influencers, celebrities, and community leaders to promote natural beauty and self-acceptance while dispelling myths about lighter skin.

    “Through collaborative efforts, we can address the root causes of skin-bleaching practices and promote healthier and more inclusive attitudes toward beauty,” he said.

    He identified Nigeria as the “world capital” of skin bleaching, citing a World Health Organisation (WHO) report that 77 per cent of Nigerian women use skin-lightening products.

    He said that other studies and surveys corroborated the high prevalence of skin bleaching in Nigeria.

    He shared findings from the ministry’s Cosmetics Safety Management Programme (CSMP), which revealed that 52 per cent of manufacturers incorporate skin-lightening agents into their products.

    Salako pointed out that many individuals substitute the term “toning” for bleaching, mistakenly considering it less harmful or entirely safe.

    He emphasised the severe health risks posed by Skin-Lightening Products (SLPs), which often contain hazardous substances such as mercury, hydroquinone, steroids, and heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium.

    “These substances can cause skin damage, organ toxicity, neurological complications, and cancer.

    “The widespread use of SLPs in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, highlights the urgent need for targeted public health campaigns, stricter regulatory enforcement, and community-driven advocacy to combat the practice,” he said.

    Burnt skin due to bleaching chemicals

    Salako commended the health ministry and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for their proactive measures.

    He listed such measures to include  the 2019 Cosmetic Products (Prohibition of Bleaching Agents) Regulations, which prohibit harmful skin-bleaching agents like mercury, and limit hydroquinone concentration to two per cent.

    “The CSMP has carried out sensitisation  campaigns, grassroots advocacy, and training programmes to raise awareness about the dangers of skin bleaching.

    “The government is also developing a guideline on the safety assessment of cosmetic products to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure that  all products meet international safety standards, ” he said.

    NAN reports that Africa is fast becoming a hotspot for the  usage of  skin-lightening product.

    According to a 2023 WHO fact sheet, the prevalence of skin bleaching among women varies across Africa.

    “25 per cent of women in Mali use  such  products; 32 per cent in South Africa, 39 per cent in Ghana, 50 per cent in Senegal, and 66 per cent in Congo-Brazzaville,” it said.

    The WHO report said that  77 per cent of women in Nigeria consumed  the products,  making it  the highest globally.

    This trend is driven by societal pressures linking lighter skin to beauty, success, and wealth.

    While several African countries, including Ghana, South Africa, and Mali, have banned SLPs, weak enforcement allows the products to flood markets across the continent.

  • Cervical Cancer, 4th most common cancer in women – WHO

    Cervical Cancer, 4th most common cancer in women – WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) states also, that there were some reported cases of H5 avian influenza between last year and 2025.

    Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General World Health Organisation (WHO), addressed global health issues on Thursday, revealing that cervical cancer is the fourth-most common cancer in women worldwide.

    He highlighted that the disease caused an estimated 660,000 cases and 350,000 deaths annually.

    Ghebreyesus stressed that cervical cancer was one of the few cancers that could be prevented and treated if detected early, but most cases and deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries that lacked access to vaccines, screening, and treatment.

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    He further mentioned that many countries were currently raising awareness about cervical cancer this January.

    He also highlighted WHO’s global initiative launched in November 2020 aimed at eliminating cervical cancer.

    ”Since then, numerous countries have introduced vaccines to prevent the disease, and many are rolling out advanced diagnostics.”

    Ghebreyesus emphasised that eliminating cervical cancer was achievable if all girls and women have access to vaccines, tests, and treatments.

    He added that cervical cancer prevention was part of WHO’s broader efforts to promote and protect maternal health, the theme for World Health Day this year.

    READ ALSO: Cervical Cancer: causes, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment

    Regarding H5 avian influenza, he reported that 66 cases were recorded globally in 2024, the highest since 2015, and two cases, including one death, have already been reported in 2025.

    He stressed the importance of controlling the virus’s spread among animals to prevent human transmission and urged countries to strengthen biosecurity measures and share viral samples with WHO’s global surveillance system.

  • FCCPC Uncovers Smuggled, Sub-standard Sugar in Nigeria

    FCCPC Uncovers Smuggled, Sub-standard Sugar in Nigeria

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised concerns over the circulation of adulterated sugar in Nigeria, reportedly smuggled from Brazil.

     Investigations have revealed that various brands, including Grupo Moreno, Terous, and USI S. Joao, are entering the market without proper registration or the necessary Vitamin A fortification. 

    These products, lacking critical labeling such as production dates and batch numbers, pose significant health risks and threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s sugar industry.  

    The smuggled sugar, which bypasses regulatory checks, creates unfair competition for local producers and contributes to price manipulation.

     Without proper fortification, it exposes consumers, particularly vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women, to health issues like blindness and immune deficiencies.  

    In response to this, the FCCPC is working with NAFDAC, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other agencies to tighten enforcement and disrupt the supply chain of these substandard goods. 

    Consumers are urged to check for proper labeling, including NAFDAC registration, before purchasing sugar products.

  • FG Launches Free C-Section Initiative to Reduce Maternal Mortality

    FG Launches Free C-Section Initiative to Reduce Maternal Mortality

    The Federal Government has introduced a nationwide policy offering free cesarean sections to women as part of its strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

    Announced by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, during the launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) in Abuja, the move aims to tackle Nigeria’s high maternal death rates.

    This initiative, launched at the Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the health sector’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), focuses on improving maternal healthcare access, particularly in underserved areas.

    It seeks to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent women from accessing life-saving procedures, such as C-sections, whether for emergency or planned deliveries.

    The government also aims to strengthen primary healthcare services and boost community engagement in maternal health.

    Pate emphasized the need for accessible and quality care for mothers and newborns, underlining the administration’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pledged its support, aligning with the government’s efforts to ensure effective implementation of the initiative.

  • Reps Pass Bill To Increase Health Workers’ Retirement Age For Second Reading

    Reps Pass Bill To Increase Health Workers’ Retirement Age For Second Reading

    A bill seeking to raise the retirement age for health workers in the nation from 60 to 65 years and extending the years of service from 35 to 40 passed a second reading on Thursday before members of the House of Representatives.

    During the plenary debate on the bill, its proponent, Dr. Wale Hammed (APC, Lagos), articulated that this legislation aims to retain seasoned medical professionals, thereby fostering the growth of the health sector while simultaneously mentoring younger practitioners.

    He emphasized that this initiative has the potential to transform the healthcare landscape, noting that the ongoing Japa syndrome negatively impacts the sector, as it is predominantly the younger workforce that is emigrating.

    Dr. Hammed acknowledged that while it may not be feasible to prevent migration due to individual rights, adjusting the retirement age could facilitate the retention of those who wish to continue serving locally for a longer duration.

    He said, “Increasing the retirement age will retain experienced healthcare workers, allowing them to continue contributing their expertise to the sector, as it is particularly important at this time that the healthcare delivery system faces significant challenges, especially a shortage of skilled professionals.

    “Nigeria’s healthcare sector is currently experiencing a significant depletion in both the number and quality of professionals due to two main factors.

    “Firstly, a substantial number of health workers are migrating abroad in search of the proverbial golden fleece—a trend difficult to stop given the fundamental human rights of the individuals concerned. Secondly, the compulsory retirement age of 60 and the mandatory 35 years of service, as stipulated in the public service rules, is contributing to the exodus of experienced professionals.

    “While we cannot control the former, the latter can be addressed through the upward review of the retirement age which this Bill will achieve.

    “We have precedence for such measures, as the federal government has previously reviewed upward, the retirement age for certain categories of public servants, including judges, lecturers, and teachers.”

    Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) participated in the discussion by urging fellow members to provide the bill with a clear direction. He noted that several states within the federation have already raised the retirement age for health workers.

    He pointed out that during the recruitment process in hospitals, specific qualifications are typically outlined, and there is a persistent shortage of consultants and other health professionals due to a lack of experience.

    Jaha emphasized that health professionals over the age of 50 who are willing to remain in the workforce and contribute to the healthcare delivery system should be permitted to continue their service rather than being retired solely based on age or years of service.

    Bello Ambarura also contributed to the discourse, highlighting that numerous consultant positions in various Federal Medical Centres remain unfilled while retiring professionals are being recruited by foreign agencies due to their expertise.

    He contended that raising the retirement age for health workers would significantly benefit the healthcare sector in the country.