Nigeria Health Watch
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Thought Leadership

Analytical and opinion-led pieces that examine the policy, governance, and political economy shifts shaping health in Nigeria, Africa, and globally. This category features evidence-informed arguments and critical reflections that interrogate assumptions, clarify trade-offs, and point to practical reforms. The goal is to strengthen advocacy and decision making by linking ideas to real system constraints and opportunities.

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Blog Image 2 May

Beauty Without Burden: Why Nigeria Must Keep Lead Out of Cosmetics

By Habibat Lawal | May 2, 2026

Habibat Lawal Ohunene and Chinwendu Iroegbu (Lead writers) Across Nigeria, beauty products are part of everyday life. A woman might buy eyeliner from an open market, body cream from a neighbourhood chemist, powder from an online vendor, or a so-called “organic” mixture from a beauty seller recommended by a friend. For many families, products such […]

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Blog Image 28 Apr

Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir Injection for HIV Prevention in Nigeria: The Real Test Is Access

By Uche Kennedy and Sunday Oko | April 28, 2026

On 14 July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new guidelines recommending twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention. In large trials, twice-yearly lenacapavir delivered near-complete protection against HIV, including zero infections in one major study and very few in another. The guidance brings new momentum to a […]

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Blog Image 22 Apr

As Foreign Aid Declines, Can Pension Funds Fill Nigeria’s Health Financing Gap?

By Nigeria Health Watch | April 22, 2026

Chibuike Alagboso (Lead writer) Nigeria’s pension fund assets grew by 20% in 2025, rising from N22.9 trillion in January to over ₦27 trillion by December. However, the bulk of these assets remains concentrated in federal government securities, effectively financing fiscal deficits, while a smaller share is allocated to equities listed on the stock exchange. While […]

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Blog Image 18 Apr

As Things Fall Apart with ODA, Can Nigeria Finally Fund Its Own Health System?

By Nigeria Health Watch | April 18, 2026

Yasir Jamal Bakare and Vivianne Ihekweazu (Lead writers) The preliminary figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report landed like a final verdict. Official development assistance from the world’s wealthiest nations fell by 23.1% in real terms in 2025, the largest annual decline in the entire history of recorded foreign aid. This […]

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Blog Image 11 Apr

Nigeria’s Health Tax Discussion Tests Sustainable Financing: Insights From Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet

By Nigeria Health Watch | April 11, 2026

Christopher Bassey and Hannah Ajayi (Lead writers) As official development assistance (ODA) continues to decline, governments are coming under growing pressure to mobilise domestic resources to fund healthcare. Preliminary data show that official development assistance (ODA) declined by 23.1% in 2025, marking the largest annual drop on record, while bilateral ODA to sub-Saharan Africa fell […]

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