The Enugu State Ministry of Health has commenced a sensitisation programme for health workers on the signs and symptoms of the Zika virus.

 The Chief Surveillance Officer of the state, Dr Okechukwu Ossai, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday that the exercise was to get the health workers prepared on the virus.

 Ossai, who is also the Director of Public Health in the state, noted that the ministry was not relenting in its efforts to keep surveillance on burning health issues.

The Nigerian Nuclear Regulation Authority (NNRA) has reduced the Authorization Fees it charges for the regulation of ionization radiation practice in Nigeria which includes X-ray and other forms of Nuclear medicine by 80%. 

This was contained in a detailed gazette released by the agency which approved the new fees payable for Authorization, Regulation, Licensing, Permits, and any other services related to these. See here to download detailed document

The concept of healthcare has taken on new dimensions due to its increasing role and influence in ensuring optimal health outcomes on one hand, and its new status as a viable sub-sector of a nation's economy. Driving this increasing role is the private health sector, who provide over 50% of health services in sub-Saharan Africa and drives over 95% of total health expenditure in Nigeria through out-of-pocket payments.

Healthcare and Medical Entrepreneurs in Nigeria are often faced with multiple challenges. Asides from compliance and regulatory issues, and the mandate as a health professional to provide stellar services which meets the needs of patients, health care practices must essentially operate as a profitable business ventures if they are to keep their doors open to the public.

The Health Care Federation of Nigeria (HFN) is an active coalition of Nigerian Private Sector professionals whose mission it is to improve healthcare indices and create an environment where Nigerians can receive affordable and accessible healthcare of the highest quality.

In partnership with Medic West Africa, the largest medical exhibition in West Africa, which brings together over 3,500 healthcare professionals and host more than 280 of the world's leading healthcare suppliers, manufacturers and service providers, HFN will be providing one of 6 educational conference tracks will take place during the exhibition.

Global progress on controlling malaria risks stalling due to an urgent need for more funding, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in its annual report on Tuesday.Overall, the number of new cases fell by 21 percent between 2010 and 2015, and mortality rates fell by 29 percent 31 percent in the African region.

But globally there were still 212 million new cases and 429,000 deaths last year which could be prevented.

For example, 43 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa was not protected by treated nets or indoor spraying. The unprecedented progress in malaria is one of the biggest successes in healthcare history, Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, told reporters in London.

In a groundbreaking historic event, a first in the history of Nigerian health sector initiatives, HealthPlus Pharmacy, partnering with HealthCheck Diagnostics and Wellness Ltd , launched the Healthy Heart Check Service today, 26th of September 2017.  

To celebrate the World Heart Day, (September 29th) HealthPlus launched the Healthy Heart Check Service, which is one of the many value-adding services that they offer to meet the health needs of the communities and environs in which they serve. In her keynote address, the Founder/CEO, Mrs Bukky George stated that "Heart disease is one of the greatest causes of premature death. In Nigeria, 436 males and 476 females out of every 100,000 die as a result of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These deaths can be prevented.

In a well attended event on the 17th of October 2017, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, a giant stride was once again made by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Health sector as a whole with the Launching of the PSN Foundation and the inauguration of the Trustees of the PSN Foundation by the Hon. Minister of Health, alongside the President of PSN and the Dep. President of the NMA in the presence of the Emir of Kamo, Lamido Sanusi II (ably represented). 

Speaking at the Launching, Pharm Ahmed I Yakassai,PHARM. FPSN, FNIM, FNAPharm, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Niegria (PSN) stated that "The PSN Foundation will promote research and development, promote education in the expansive field of pharmacy practice in Nigeria, it will also carter for the welfare of pharmacists and Nigerians at large and provide scholarships to deserving pharmacists and their children, and promote national development.

Promasidor Nigeria Limited has provided succor to more than 60 parents of children with disabilities through its low-interest microcredit scheme christened We Too Can Grow in advancement of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy.

The Scheme, in partnership with Children’s Developmental Centre, CDC, which supports children and young adults with disabilities, has benefited five cooperative groups to which these families belong, with three more to receive grants. Commenting on the support received from Promasidor at a ceremony held for the cooperatives at the CDC in Lagos, the Project Director, Delphine Misan-Arenyeka stated that the company has shown that it cares for children as well as young adults with disabilities.

A Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Olukemi Tongo, on Tuesday said neonatal mortality remained a great challenge to achieving developmental goals.  

Tongo, who works at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, made the assertion in an interview with Newsmen in Ibadan. She said that the survival and health of newborn babies were critical to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Neonatal mortality, which occurs in the first four weeks of life, contributes significantly to under-the-counter deaths. “However, a lot of these deaths are due to preventable causes, including prematurity, neonatal sepsis, jaundice, infections and birth asphyxia,” Tongo said.