Health - DTOWNCRIER

Only N36m Released From N218bn 2025 Health Capital Budget — Minister Ali Pate

February 10, 2026February 10, 2026Obianuju Nicole0

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has expressed concern over the poor release of funds for the health sector, revealing that only N36 million was released from the N218 billion approved for the ministry’s capital projects in the 2025 budget. Pate made the disclosure on Monday during the 2026 budget defence […]

Senate Suspends Consideration of Criminal Code Amendment Bill Over Abortion Clause

October 22, 2025October 22, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

The Senate on Tuesday suspended deliberations on the Criminal Code Amendment Bill following sharp divisions among lawmakers over provisions that criminalise the supply of drugs or instruments used to perform abortions. The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives, seeks to amend Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act to reflect current economic realities. Senate Leader Opeyemi […]

Japan Approves Over-the-Counter Sale of Emergency Contraceptive Pill for the First Time

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

Japan has officially approved the sale of an over-the-counter contraceptive pill for the first time, marking a significant policy shift in the traditionally conservative country. The pill, Norlevo, manufactured by ASKA Pharmaceutical, received government approval for manufacturing and marketing on Monday, October 20, allowing women to purchase emergency contraception without a doctor’s prescription. For years, […]

Resident Doctors Accuse FG of Ignoring 24-Hour Call Duty Directive

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised concerns that the Federal Government has yet to respond to its directive restricting doctors from working beyond 24-hour call duty shifts. Speaking with The Guardian on Wednesday, NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, confirmed that members across 91 centres nationwide had been instructed to limit continuous […]

Nigerian Civil Society Condemns UN Plan to Scrap UNAIDS by 2026

September 28, 2025September 28, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has condemned a United Nations proposal to dismantle the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) by 2026, warning it would undermine decades of progress against the epidemic. In a statement on Sunday, the coalition described the move as “ill-timed and dangerously shortsighted,” stressing that UNAIDS is the […]

Early Blood Pressure Checks in Children Could Prevent Midlife Heart Disease, Experts Say

September 27, 2025September 27, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

Children as young as seven with high blood pressure face up to a 50% greater risk of dying from heart disease in adulthood, according to new research. The study, led by Northwestern University and tracking 38,000 children over five decades, found that those with elevated readings at age seven were far more likely to die […]

Kwara Govt Reaffirms Commitment to Quality Healthcare at the Grassroots

September 24, 2025September 24, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to repositioning and delivering quality healthcare services at the grassroots through sustained investments in the primary health system. In a statement signed by the agency’s Press Secretary, Bukola Abdulganiyu, Elelu made the pledge while […]

WHO Commends Nigeria, Others for Progress in Reducing NCD Deaths, Calls for Urgent Global Action

September 19, 2025September 19, 2025Obianuju Nicole0

The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised Nigeria, China, Egypt, Russia, Brazil, and Denmark for achieving significant progress in reducing mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to WHO, the biggest gains came from declines in cardiovascular diseases and several cancers—including stomach and colorectal cancers in both sexes, cervical and breast cancers in women, and lung […]