Health |

March 26, 2025

March 26, 2025March 26, 2025 IFMNEWS

Ogun State Confirms Lassa Fever Outbreak Following NYSC Member’s Death

A 25-year-old female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member has tragically passed away from Lassa fever at a secondary health facility in Ijebu North Local Government Area, Ogun State. The corps member, who had fallen ill while in Ondo State, was brought to the facility on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, and died later that day, according to a statement released by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, on Wednesday.

Coker confirmed the incident as part of an official declaration of a Lassa fever outbreak in Ogun State. “The index case is a 25-year-old female NYSC member who became sick in Ondo State and was admitted to one of our secondary health facilities in Ijebu North LGA on March 18, 2025, where she unfortunately passed away the same day,” the statement read. It described Lassa fever as a viral hemorrhagic illness characterized by symptoms such as high fever, headaches, body weakness, sore throat, muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding from orifices like the ears, eyes, nose, or mouth.

The commissioner urged residents to seek medical attention immediately if they experience any of these symptoms, emphasizing, “Any febrile illness unresponsive to 48 hours of anti-malaria or antibiotic treatment should raise suspicion of Lassa fever.” She also called on all health facilities—public and private—to heighten infection prevention and control measures and ensure staff compliance. Healthcare workers suspecting Lassa fever in patients were directed to contact their Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (LGA DSNO), or reach the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer at 0703-421-4893 or the State Epidemiologist at 0808-425-0881.

Coker reassured the public of the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration’s commitment to safeguarding citizens’ health through vigilant surveillance and swift action against infectious diseases. She noted that the Ministry of Health, alongside the Rapid Response Team in Ijebu North East, is actively managing the outbreak with intensified monitoring and community outreach efforts to curb its spread.

March 18, 2025

March 18, 2025March 18, 2025 IFMNEWS

WHO Warns of Imminent Treatment Shortages for Nigerian HIV Patients and Others

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that Nigeria is one of eight countries at risk of depleting its HIV treatment supplies in the near future, a crisis exacerbated by the Trump administration’s decision to suspend U.S. foreign aid. According to Reuters, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted Nigeria, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine as nations facing “substantial disruptions” in their HIV treatment pipelines due to the funding freeze.

Speaking at a press conference, Ghebreyesus cautioned that these interruptions could unravel two decades of progress in combating HIV. “The disruptions to HIV programs could lead to over 10 million additional cases and three million HIV-related deaths,” he stated. The U.S. aid pause, enacted shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, has also hampered efforts to address polio, malaria, and tuberculosis in affected regions.

Beyond HIV, the WHO raised alarms about the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, a critical system with over 700 sites worldwide, which now faces potential closure due to funding shortages. This threat looms as measles cases surge in the United States, underscoring the timing’s severity. Ghebreyesus urged the U.S. to manage its withdrawal of direct funding responsibly, saying, “The United States has a duty to ensure this is done in an orderly and humane way, giving countries time to secure alternative resources.”

The ripple effects extend further. In Afghanistan, the WHO reported that 80% of its supported essential healthcare services could shut down without immediate funding. As of March 4, 167 health facilities had already closed, with over 220 more at risk by June if the situation persists. Meanwhile, the U.S.’s planned exit from the WHO—typically a source of about one-fifth of the agency’s annual budget—has forced hiring freezes and spending cuts. On Monday, the WHO announced it would slash its emergency operations funding target from $1.2 billion to $872 million for the 2026-2027 budget period.

The mounting challenges signal a precarious moment for global health, with Nigeria and other vulnerable nations bracing for the fallout.

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 IFMNEWS

FEC Approves N4.8bn for HIV Treatment Following US Policy Change

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs, ensuring uninterrupted care for people living with the virus. This decision, announced after the FEC meeting on Monday, reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening domestic funding for HIV treatment amid shifting global aid policies.

The move comes in response to concerns over recent US policy changes affecting the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a key source of HIV funding in Nigeria. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, emphasized the importance of sustaining HIV treatment efforts as international funding dynamics evolve.

Pate noted that while global partners have long supported HIV treatment, the federal government is now prioritizing direct investments in life-saving interventions for People Living with HIV (PLHIV). “This is an important signal that the federal government is committed to ensuring that life-saving treatments remain accessible, despite the changing dynamics in external support,” he stated.

Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response has benefited significantly from international donors, particularly PEPFAR, which has provided billions of dollars in funding over the past two decades. However, a temporary suspension of PEPFAR funding followed an executive order by former US President Donald Trump, which paused multiple foreign aid programs and put millions of beneficiaries at risk.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has since granted an “emergency humanitarian waiver,” allowing PEPFAR to resume operations in 55 countries, including Nigeria. Despite this, the uncertainty surrounding global aid prompted the Nigerian government to develop a sustainability plan to safeguard HIV treatment programs.

Pate disclosed that the FEC discussed the implications of US policy changes on health initiatives, particularly those addressing HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. In response, the government has formed a committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Defense, and Environment, alongside the Governors’ Forum, to develop a transition and sustainability plan.

“This is to ensure that Nigerians receiving treatment do not face disruptions,” Pate explained, adding that the committee will assess the impact of US policy shifts and devise strategies to maintain critical health programs.

While acknowledging the significant contributions of the US over the past two decades, Pate stressed that Nigeria is preparing to reduce its reliance on foreign aid. “While we greatly appreciate the support of the US government and look forward to continued collaboration, Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu is focused on transforming the health sector through national systems and domestic financing,” he said.

The ultimate goal, according to Pate, is to ensure that no patient currently receiving HIV treatment is left without care as the country strengthens its healthcare system through sustainable local funding.

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