Treat feverish conditions with caution: not all febrile illnesses are Malaria or thyroid - NIMR.

To check emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, which are common in Nigeria, there is the need to screen febrile patients with improved diagnostics, vaccines, and treatment.

Enhancing surveillance systems to effectively control and manage the diseases is also necessary. 

A Director of Research and Deputy Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Professor Rosemary Audubon, made that call during a chat with newsmen in Lagos. 

Professor Audu said research findings revealed that, in Nigeria, Lassa fever remains a major public health issue because in February this year, " the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 413 cases and 80 deaths across 11 states and 63 local government areas ".

According to her, " Between 2021 and 2024, dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses were detected in febrile patients in Oyo and Delta states, a result she described as surprising 

“And in Ondo State, we confirmed the endemicity of Lassa fever, yet 80 percent of suspected cases tested negative, raising concerns about undiagnosed infections,” she said.

“In Delta State, yellow fever virus was detected in mosquito pools even after fumigation, questioning the efficacy of control measures”

Studies on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Kwara State provided insights into its prevalence among herdsmen and febrile patients. 

Sequencing Nigeria’s first SARS-CoV-2 case in 2020 and conducting seroprevalence studies across multiple states, providing critical data on COVID-19’s spread, was part of her research. 

" Between 2021 and 2024, the team detected dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses in febrile patients across Oyo and Delta states ". Audu

On its impact on Public health,

Mrs Audu observed that the detection of multiple viral infections in Nigerian communities indicates active transmission, hence the need for interventions.

" Our research confirms the need for intensified efforts to control both rodent and mosquito populations,” she said

“We also need to enhance diagnostic capabilities for VHFs and raise awareness among healthcare providers to improve case detection.”

Professor Audu, who stressed the importance of public knowledge in disease detection and prevention, warned health workers to treat every fever with suspicion because many febrile illnesses in Nigeria are mistaken for malaria and typhoid:" 

Despite the numerous breakthroughs, Mrs Audu noted that NIMR faces several challenges, including limited funding, irregular sampling, and the high cost of serology kits.

She explained that the institute is exploring additional grant opportunities and increasing fieldwork engagement among postgraduate researchers to address the issues having been given the mandate.

Looking ahead, she said NIMR aims to expand VHF surveillance to more states, develop improved diagnostics and vaccines, and evaluate the effectiveness of available Mpox vaccines for Nigerian strains.

“Understanding the diversity of infectious agents will improve disease control and guide better public health decisions,” she said.

“Our findings have been shared at national and international scientific conferences, and we remain committed to collaborating with policymakers to implement effective health strategies.”

Earlier, the Director-General of the Institute, Professor NIMR John Obafunwa, again complained of the electricity situation in the Institute, expressing dismay that the dwindling power supply and the threat of disconnection by the PHCN was a huge challenge as research equipments are temperature sensitive. 

He explained that for NIMR to perform optimally and take its pride of place in research and production of test kits, especially to Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, government and well-meaning individuals should support the Institute to ensure sustainability.  

The Forensic Pathology expert stressed the importance of early and accurate disease diagnosis, citing inadequate diagnostic tools and the high costs of medical reagents as some of the challenges.

" The increasing presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes as explained by Professor Audu could increase the spread of arboviral diseases if left unchecked hence the need to act fast ". Obafunwa warned.

Oil Spill Devastates Obololi Community in Bayelsa State.

An Underwater Oil Spill from a Pipeline operated by a multinational company along the Obololi River in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State is devastating the Obololi community and its environs.

Community members say the Spill, which is suspected to have been caused by equipment failure at a facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, was first noticed between late Sunday night and early Monday morning.

Locals say, " the river which is our only source of drinking water and farmlands have been polluted, calling for immediate clean up, provision of relief materials, water and fish to ameliorate their suffering ".

A visit to the point of spill indicates that crude oil is bubbling out from underneath the river, where there seems to be corrosion of the pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, while some children are having their bath in the polluted water.

An elderly woman, Comfort Simeon, who spoke through an interpreter, and Florence Clarkson say, " We are starving and dying of thirst as well as having breathing difficulty as a result of the devastating impacts of the spill to the river and farmlands ".

Other natives, Comfort Payofaghe and Akpoboloukemi Cletus, say some of the children in the community are already having health issues as a result of being exposed to the spill.

Chairman of the Obololi Community Development Committee, Goodnews Oko, i said at least four person, ns including two children and two women, were already suffering from health issues such as diarrhea and severe itching having been exposed to the crude oil polluted waters, appealing for provision of water, food and other relief materials.

The Environmental Defenders Network, through its Deputy Executive Director, Chief Alagoa Morris, called for an urgent Joint Investigation Visit.

" There is the need for SPDC to clean up the polluted areas and provide relief materials to the people ". He said

Chief Morri, who is the Technical Assistant to the Governor on the Environment, also enjoined government to implement the recently released report of the Bayelsa Oil and Environment Commission.

Morris charged regulatory agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission [NUPRC ], and the State and Federal Ministry of Environment as well as the Ministry of Mineral Resources to ensure environmental justice for communities.

Natives of the Obololi community say, "operators of the facility, the SPDC have only placed booms to contain the spread of the spill ". 

Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Target Segib, who visited the Obololi community for an on-the-spot assessment, frowned at the harmful impact of the oil spill.

" The Council would urgently provide alternative water supply to the area to alleviate their sufferings, calling on the people to avoid drinking and cooking from water from the creek to avoid water-borne diseases ".

The Deputy paramount ruler of Obololi, Chief Wilfred Kueke, expressed dismay that the community had suffered environmental pollution of the environment since the SPDC began operations in the area in 1973, stressing that no form of social amenities has been provided I,ncluding healthcare services,  andater a,s well as cordial Community-Company relationship.

Alambo Datonye

BBC Africa uncovers killer drug, Tafrodol, now in every community in Nigeria.

A new finding by the British Broadcasting Center, BBC Africa, has brought to the public glare, an illegal pharmaceutical product known as " Tafrodol ". 

 “The drugs from all investigation consume the sanity of those who abuse them, “like a fire burns when kerosene is poured on it.” 

The report says, " In the city of Tamale, in Ghana, so many young people are taking illegal opioids, that one of the city’s Chiefs, Alhassan Maham, has created a voluntary task force of about 100 citizens whose mission is to raid drug dealers and take the pills off the streets.

 According to him, "One addict in Tamale put it even more simply. The drugs, he said, have “wasted our lives”. With a population of 225 million, Nigeria provides the biggest market for those pills. 

The Chairman, of Nigeria Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, told the BBC, that opioids are “devastating our youths, our families, it's in every community in Nigeria.” In India, pharmaceutical companies cannot legally manufacture and export unlicensed drugs unless these drugs meet the standards of the importing countries. 

Aveo Ships Tafrodol and similar products to Ghana, where the combination of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol is, according to Ghana National

Drug Enforcement Agency, unlicensed and illegal, by shipping Tafrodol to Ghana, Aveo is breaking Indian law ".

BBC Eye put the allegations to Vinod Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals, but they did not respond, the Indian drugs regulator, the CDSCO, told us the Indian government recognizes its responsibility towards global public health and is committed to ensuring India has a responsible and strong pharmaceutical regulatory system, noting that, exports from India to other countries are closely monitored and recently tightened regulation is strictly enforced.

It called on importing countries to support India's efforts by ensuring they had similarly strong regulatory systems.

The CDSCO stated, "It has taken up the matter with other countries, including those in West Africa, and is committed to working with them to prevent wrongdoing, promising to take immediate action against any pharmaceutical firm involved in malpractice.

UNFPA, Gates Foundation donate Family Planning commodities to Lagos Govt...3 more states in focus

The Lagos State Government has delivered 25 million worth of Family Planning commodities to last for five years and gave them to clients free of charge.

Presenting the commodities to the Lagos State Government at the Central Medical Stores in Oshodi, Lagos yesterday, 18th of February, the Programme Coordinator /Head of Office, UNFPA, Lagos Liaison Office, Ms Abbiall Msemburi, stated that the family planning commodities were procured by the Gates Foundation.

She explained further that the Lagos State Government is going to have $5 million worth of family planning commodities every year for five years, which amounts to 25 million dollars. 

According to Msemburi, " Through this five-year program, where the Gates Foundation has given 25 million family planning commodities to three states, including Lagos. “The Foundation is committed to ensuring the availability of family planning services for women and girls. “This is the first handover ceremony that is taking place; there will be more that will be taking place.”

She says, " UNFPA, the United Nations Agency for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, is proud to be partnering with the Lagos State Government and the Gates Foundation to ensure all women and all adults, especially the hard-to-reach, have access to family planning services. "

“I would like to express UNFPA's gratitude to the Gates Foundation for its commitment to ensuring the empowerment of women and girls through family planning,” she stated.

Msemburi,  “We have been supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as the Lagos State Government by ensuring the provision of technical support to family planning. “And when we're talking about the last mile, we actually wanted to reach the last beneficiary that we intended to reach. We also make sure that our young people have access to sexual and reproductive health services as they may require them.”

Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, represented by Dr Folashade Oludara, a Public Health Specialist currently heading the Family Health and Nutrition Directorate of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, lamented that uncontrolled fertility often results in uncontrolled population.

“While expressing the pleasure of love, every child must be brought up wanted, and so family planning gives that opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancy.

“However, in this very populated state, the government has been doing a lot. We are used to taking quarterly supplies from the Federal Government, which have been inadequate, but over the years, rs have been inadequate. Lagos State has also tried to match up with the gap, but the gap keeps increasing because of what we all know. “The insurgency in the country that brings everybody to Lagos and the ever-growing population.”

Ogboye explained further, " Lagos State has over 31 million people. And when you talk of women of reproductive age group, there are 22 percent of that population, which is almost 7 million ".

" Analysing the figures, be stressed "You can imagine 7 million people with another 7 million sexually active males, We are talking about 7 million women, another 7 million sexually active males. Impregnating the 7 million people, like three to four times, if reproductive health is not controlled, if fertility is not controlled ". 

Ogboye hinted that " Lagos is used to taking quarterly supplies from the federal government, which although over the years has been inadequate." 

"  I'm excited because this is perhaps, apart from the state government, this is the most consistent supply that we would be having. We were told, or the ministry was informed, that the Gates Foundation is assisting the state with a 25 million supply of family planning ". He stated

On her part, the Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor, Dr ( Mrs )  Kemi Ogunyem, said over 3,000 people migrate into Lagos every day, an indication that there is pressure on the resources in the state.

To this end, she said the state is looking at about 30 million people residing in Lagos, and “we have to meet their needs.”

“ She noted, " Our indices for maternal and infant mortality rates are not where we really want them, adding that encouraging our women and men to do family planning, to ensure that they space out their births, their pregnancies, is also helping us to reduce maternal mortality rates as well. " 

And so not only is this important that we have the commodities, we still have to go out there and advocate and make people more aware that they have to have family planning services.” Ogunyemi 

GIFA Anniversary: WALGON Wins Novelty Football Match Against LEWA

In a thrilling display of sportsmanship and camaraderie, the Wives of All Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (WALGON) in Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, February 16, 2025, emerged victorious by a lone goal against the Legislators Wives Association (LEWA) in a friendly football match played in commemoration of the first Anniversary of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA).

The match which took place at the Uyo Township Stadium, served as a platform to foster unity and friendship among members of both teams, members of the Board of Trustees of GIFA, political stakeholders and spectators who came out to witness the event.

Speaking shortly after the bout, Coordinator, office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, congratulated WALGON on their win, hinting that the match will be played annually as part of activities to celebrate future anniversaries of GIFA. 

"Thank you to everyone that has come out to witness this match. It is something that we will be doing annually to mark our anniversary. Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) will be one year on the 20th of February and this match is in commemoration of the anniversary. Congratulations both teams and bigger congratulations to WALGON," she said. 

Others who bared their mind during the friendly match were commissioner designate, Mr Linus Nkan, the Chairman of Nsit Ubium Local Government Council, Mr Alfred Charles and his Nsit Ibom counterpart, Hon. Otobong Aaron, a former Dean of commissioners, Dr. Glory Edet and others, who lauded Lady Obareki for the initiative, describing football as a full-body workout that promotes joint flexibility, physical fitness, emotional well-being and creates harmony between players.

They commended the female players for their dedication and enthusiasm in participating in the match, noting that the introduction of the match among the female stakeholders will foster unity of purpose, teamwork and peaceful coexistence.

Also speaking, the physically elated coach of the winning team and President of WALGON, Mrs Akaninyene Udo, said she was happy over their win against LEWA, adding that the novelty football match has offorded both team the opportunity as foot soldiers, to take to the pitch in commemoration of the first anniversary of GIFA and the post humous birthday of its Founder, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.

Drug shops in Idumota Lagos under lock.... as NAFDAC rids the market of fake and substandard drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC has again called on members of the public to report any bad medicine to the agency for immediate action. 

The Director - General, NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye made the call while raiding the Idumota Drug market of fake, unregistered and counterfeit drugs. 

She said, the essence is to control the selling of medicines that are injurious to health especially the unapproved ones. 

According to her, " we have over 5000   open market shops in the country, adding that they not supposed to be open, they are supposed to be in what is called, "  Coordinated WholeSale Center " we are going to get there in Onisha, Aba and Lagos " she promised 

The DG emphasized that, there must be control because the health of the people matter, hence the need for the 7 days lock up exercise. 

" You and I matter, we are not individual that could be killed immediately because of bad medicine and we have to be very very sensitive about this. " The medicine you are taking must make you well, not kill you". If you get a medicine and it's not making you well, call NAFDAC, " we would  trace it, we would track it". Adeyeye 

"If it is bad medicine, it will kill you, it will kill a child, many people have died in this country because of bad medicine, but enough is enough ". she warned.

The Director, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Mr  Shaba Mohammed, said the operations which started some days ago, were being carried out in three major open drug markets in the country.

Mohammed said, "Today's operation is about substandard medical products in Nigerian market, On Sunday night, " we sealed the three major open drug markets in the country, Idumota drug market, Bridget drug market in Onitsha and Ariaria drug markets in Aba ", noting that, " we have all the securities, military police, SS and pharmacy Council of Nigeria, along with NAFDAC staff working in those markets ".

" No time is too late for any action taken against counterfeit,  before now, we were involved in so many investigations, and we come to all these markets and seize products, but we are doing this now so that we'll be able to remove virtually all counterfeit products in the store in those markets, because they are the hub of distribution of over 80% of drug needs in the country ". he explained 

In the same vain, the Deputy Director Investigation and Enforcement in Charge of team two and three, Mrs Florence Ubah, said, "So we are screening this shop, and the owner of the shop is the head of the tax force, as he claimed". 

 " Although confirmed by other tax force members, yesterday, some people were trying to run out of the market with these cartons, here, they are about 14 in number. So when the tax force came along, they ran away, and they couldn't apprehend them, but they were able to pick the products, and because they didn't have anywhere to put them, because it was already late, he had to put them in his shops, he explained before I opened the shop " Ubah stated.

 She explained further, " So I said, Okay, since they are products abandoned by whosoever they are, we have to pick them to NAFDAC office for more verification. So that's exactly what we have done. " We have picked the products that they recovered, and we are now screening his shop as part of the exercise ". she said

Chairman, Lagos State Medicine Association, Island Zone, Mr Innocent Ezennaya, who expressed concerns over the ongoing inspection exercise said although he is in support of the exercise, the one week lock up would have economic consequences both on the owners, the hospital and the patients who rely on drugs to survive.

Ezennaya who expressed dismay that despite regular checks on members to ensure no person is caught wanting, some were still in the habit of cutting conners, stressing that, " this particular operation which is more intense, with inspectors checking shops one after the other will add value to their business". 

He called on the law enforcement agencies who are stationed at the borders to intensity checks as those fake and adulterated medicines pass through the borders. 

" All those drugs pass through the borders, the water, air and by road, what are they doing ? It is their duty to to ensure those medicines don't come in ". Ezennaya stressed 

" He assured members of the public that business will resume in earnest as not all sealed off shops that are found wanting., staying that, it was just a modernity to differentiate between shops that had been checked and those that had not been investigated ".

Julie Ekong

School in Lagos gets digital learning gadgets, from Airtel and UNICEF...as over 600,000 learners in 1260 schools across Nigeria benefit

E - learning has been described as a platform that brings engagement, 

stimulation and collaboration between students and teachers in order to achieve the primary objective of teaching and learning.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, stated this at a joint field trip by AIRTEL Africa /Nigeria and UNICEF at St. Agnes Primary school, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. Alli-Balogun noted that, the world has gone digital and education cannot be left behind and to this end digital teaching and learning process has to be deployed

"We know we're in digital world right now and we cannot be isolated from the global competitiveness which has to do with the deployment of digital teaching and learning process and that is what we are witnessing today".

He added that Lagos State Government in support of digital teaching and learning methods has it's own projects whereby digital methods and contents are being deployment to schools.

The Commissioner said, " the joint field trip is a collaboration where data is given to some primary schools to enable them have access to the internet, learn contents and the teachers are able to deliver their works effectively.

On the maintenance of the gadgets, Mr. Alli-Balogun stated, " they are bound to get spoilt and they will be repaired or replaced as soon as possible to continue learning and teaching" . 

"The gadgets are not forever, along the line, some will get spoilt and we do repair, replace also that is the sustainability aspect of it, adding that,  for the digital education to continue you  have to repair and replace at the right time". Alli- Balogun

The Chief Executive Officer, AIRTEL Africa  and Nigeria , Mr Sunil Taldar, noted that, the partnership between his company and UNICEF for the past three years is a very important one as about 360 schools and 600,000 learners have been impacted through the partnership.

Mr Taldar explained that, " 40% of the population in Africa are below 16 years, that makes education important for the future of the children ".

"  The collaboration which is aimed at providing standardized education through the Nigeria Learning Passport, NLP, will be added to the education improvement in Africa and making bigger progress ". he stated

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Chief of Field Office, Lagos, Celine Lafoucriere, who described the partnership with the Airtel Africa and Nigeria as one of the most important in the country, stated that, amongst other countries that is implementing the programme, " Nigeria is doing very well ".

Lafoucriere further identified the importance of connectivity to the internet for learning for children to include, minimizing disruption in their education and ensuring standardization in delivering of quality education, " adding that 1.8 million learners have been registered on the Nigeria e-learning Passport ".

"1.8 million learners are now registered for e-learning Passport, so it's very important for children to be connected to the internet to have access to digital learning and to have minimal distraction in their education ".

She noted further, " This will ensure that we have across the board standardization when it to delivering quality education and we are doing doing, together, UNICEF and Airtel is doing well ". 

 Representatives from UNICEF, the network provider and members of the Lagos State Education Board graced the occasion.

Julie Ekong