health news

Agony of ostracized Ebonyi widow

In her letter of appeal, titled: “Urgent Petition against Extreme Harassment, Ostracization, and Attempted Forcible Eviction by the leadership and members of the Acharaukwu Development Union, Women Wing (ADU), in Ezza South Local Government Area”, the widow alleged that members of Umunaza kindred united against her because she was married from Achina Aguata Council of Anambra State and has no one to speak on her behalf because all the adult male children of her husband’s family had died of strange diseases. “I am originally from Achina, Aguata LGA of Anambra State, but was married into the…

Africa CDC Commits $1.5mn to Support Kenya’s Ebola Response

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 28 — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has mobilised approximately $1.5 million in financial, technical and operational support to strengthen Kenya’s response to the Ebola outbreak. The commitment follows a meeting between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya in Nairobi, where Duale briefed the continental health agency on measures Kenya has taken to contain the outbreak.

Entry into Agamic temple premises cannot be permitted for non-Hindus who sport religious markers: HC

Ebola outbreak passes 10,000 cases in DRC after nurse killed, another injured

The outbreak is now the second largest Ebola virus outbreak globally, and the fastest growing in the DRC's history according to health officials.

When DMK flexed its muscle during Indira Gandhi’s visit to Tamil Nadu in 1977

On October 29, 1977, when Indira Gandhi visited Madurai, the DMK members, who were staging blackflag protests, threw stones, sticks at the former Prime Minister; in Chennai, two persons were killed when the police opened fire at the protesters who turned violent on Mount Road

Treasurer not ready to 'put up white flag' on troubled hospital's $3.2b budget

After more than a year of speculation about a major cost blowout, the state government is set to receive a final price on the new Women's and Children's Hospital within months.

Fake drinks may be causing liver, kidney diseases in Ondo — NMA

By Dayo Johnson, Akure The Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm over the circulation of suspected fake and adulterated beverages, warning that they may be contributing to liver and kidney diseases among young people. The NMA Chairman in Ondo State, Dr Roland Bola Arohunmolase, raised the concern in Akure while speaking with journalists, saying doctors were encountering liver cirrhosis and kidney disease among younger patients in age groups where such conditions were considered uncommon.

Polio: UNICEF, Zamfara move against disease

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Zamfara State Ministry of Information and Culture, organised an awareness walk in Gusau to commemorate World Polio Day. UNICEF and the Zamfara State Ministry of Information and Culture continue to emphasise the importance of public awareness, community participation, and accurate information in promoting immunisation and improving children’s health outcomes across the state.

Zamfara steps up Ebola surveillance, screening

The Zamfara Government had stepped up surveillance against Ebola by conducting mass screening at the Gusau International Airport and across motor parks. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had disclosed that the index patient diagnosed with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in Nigeria is a Ugandan-born woman who arrived in the FCT with her husband on October 3.

Governor Lawal repositions health sector, motivates medical workers, improves service delivery — NMA

Governor Dauda Lawal has been repositioning the healthcare sector in Zamfara state through infrastructural revitalisation, improved healthcare service delivery, institutional strengthening, the Medical Association, (NMA) has said. The NMA Chairman, Zamfara State chapter, Dr Muhammad Murtata Salahu, revealed this at the 2026 Annual Physicians’

GPAA opens 23rd Annual Conference in Techiman with strong calls for primary healthcare action

The Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) has officially opened its 23rd Annual General Conference at the Jemima Grace Kodua Hotel in Techiman, with a resounding call for physician assistants to be positioned at the heart of Ghana’s primary healthcare delivery system. The high-level opening ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, including the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriya; the National President of the GPAA, Peter Akudugu Ayamba; the Bono East Regional Minister’s representative, Mrs. Beatrice Kwarteng; and Nananom of…

Ebola won’t be used as political weapon — NCDC chief

By Adegboyega Adeleye The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has dismissed suggestions that the Ebola outbreak could be used as a political weapon, insisting that disease concerns would not be exploited for political purposes. Explaining Nigeria’s preparedness for the outbreak, Idris said health authorities had been monitoring developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and anticipating the possibility of the virus reaching Nigeria through international travel and population movement.

Experts urge 'global health emergency' as climate harms accelerate

Heat, drought and storms linked to climate change are already killing millions worldwide. Researchers want global warming to be declared a global health emergency as the health harms from it escalate faster than ever.

Access to the pill and UTI treatment is changing. Is it a win for women?

Access to the pill and UTI treatment is changing. As part of a 12-month trial, eligible women will be able to consult a pharmacist for UTI treatment or the pill with no out-of-pocket consultation fee.

One dead, 14 injured in Akuse–Akosombo highway crash

One person has died, and 14 others have sustained serious injuries in a collision involving a Toyota Hiace and a Peugeot saloon car on the Akuse–Akosombo Highway in the Eastern Region. The crash occurred at Trey Court on Monday, October 26, prompting a response from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) after its Kpong Fire Station received a distress call at 2:50 p.m.

Gold Fields Health outreach screens 735 people, refers 21 suspected breast cancer cases

A health outreach programme organised by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation and its partners has provided screening and general healthcare services to 735 people in Samahu and Abekoase in the Western Region, with 21 suspected breast cancer cases referred for further assessment. The Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Abdel-Razak Yakubu, said the Foundation’s health outreach initiatives form part of efforts to improve access to essential healthcare in its host communities.

NT Health backtracks on claim only five patients impacted by privacy breach

NT Health admits 12 pregnant patients were impacted by a RDH privacy breach in which medical information was posted to Instagram, after initially saying it only identified five.

Former Met officer who served in same unit as David Carrick and Wayne Couzens found guilty of sexual offences

Mark Tyrrell convicted of one count of rape, three of sexual assault and one of perverting the course of justice at Southwark crown court A former Metropolitan police officer who served in the same unit as Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens has been found guilty of sexual offences against a woman he met through his work as an officer. A court heard that Mark Tyrrell raped the woman – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – by having sex with her after she repeatedly said no.

Queensland woman waits in pain for 12 hours for an ambulance

Queensland's hospitals are grappling with an ambulance ramping crisis — when paramedics wait with patients for more than 30 minutes before transfer to the emergency department.

NMA commends Gov Lawal for repositioning, improving health sector

The State NMA Chairman, Dr Muhammad Murtata Salahu made the commendation at the 2026 Annual Physicians’ Week and Ordinary General Meeting of the association.

Nigeria records 43,000 snakebites, 2,500 deaths yearly

He identified Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Taraba as major snakebite-endemic states, particularly within the Niger-Benue trough and Sudan Savanna. In a separate presentation titled “Dangerous Snakes of Lagos State, Nigeria,” wildlife conservation expert, Dr Mark Ofua, advised residents against attempting to catch, kill or handle snakes.

Lack of a ‘protective ring’ around care homes meant our loved ones died of Covid

Plus more letters responding to the Covid inquiry from John Robinson, David Flood and James Townsend My dad was in a care home when Covid hit in March 2020 and visits were stopped (UK government failures led to Covid spreading ‘like wildfire’ in care homes, inquiry finds, 20 October). I asked if there was Covid in the home: they were honest and said there was.

Ebola: NCDC defends patient’s evacuation, rejects claims of no confidence

Warns against politicising evacuation, false Ebola-free reports By Sola Ogundipe The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has defended the evacuation of Nigeria’s Ebola index patient to Switzerland, rejecting claims that the transfer amounted to a vote of no confidence in the country’s medical system. Idris said the index patient, who returned to Abuja from Uganda, improved clinically while in isolation and left Nigeria in a stable and conscious condition, even as he said the evacuation did not mean Nigeria had been declared Ebola-free, faulting reports that suggested…

Sultan Of Sokoto To Turban Peter Igho As Kakakin Daular Usmaniyya

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, will formally turban veteran broadcaster and television producer, Chief Peter Igho, as Kakakin Daular Usmaniyya on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The Sultanate traces its heritage to the Sokoto Caliphate, also known as Daular Usmaniyya, founded in 1804 by Islamic scholar and reformer, Shehu Usman Dan Fodio.