Nigeria Health Watch
The gentle early morning rain falls as we drive through the still dark streets of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Uko Nteghe in Mbo Local Government Area, which our guide says is about three hours away. Uko Nteghe is a rural community of about two thousand inhabitants, who are mainly farmers and fishermen. […]
The quality of healthcare a woman receives during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum is critical as it determines whether she lives or dies. Evidence shows that a majority of the maternal medicines used to treat the leading cause of maternal mortality (postpartum haemorrhage) in circulation in Nigeria are sub-standard. Consumers of sub-standard medicines might never be […]
From new and emerging health challenges occasioned by everchanging socioeconomic conditions, to dynamic shifts in healthcare delivery, 2021 has been a year of new lessons learnt. The shockwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to resonate around the world, effectively diverting global attention away from other health challenges that countries were facing. By January 31, […]
Ìgwèbụ̀íké is an Igbo phrase which means “there is strength in community.” Community plays an important role in every aspect of our lives. Having a sense of community unites us. Being a part of a community can make us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourselves. Since 2017, through the […]
The COVID-19 pandemic not only exposed weaknesses in global health systems, it also provided us with an opportunity to course-correct and build more resilient health systems that will ensure health security for all. Taking advantage of this opportunity, on September 2 and 3, 2021, the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum convened a 2-day meeting with the […]
Yimitu is a low-income community on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. A significant part of its population is made up of people displaced from Northeast Nigeria by the Lake Chad conflict. An estimated three thousand people live there, but no census has been carried out in the community. They are predominantly farmers, small […]
An adolescent or teenage girl is often described as a young person who is approaching womanhood. According to the World Health Organisation, an adolescent girl is between the ages of 10 and 19, a time when she is navigating puberty, discovering herself and her sexuality and all that makes her a woman. This is a […]
“Without mental health, there can be no physical health”- Dr Brock Chisholm It is not an uncommon sight to see naked or half-clothed persons roaming the streets of villages, towns and cities in Nigeria. Commonly called ‘Ototolo’ (madmen) by the Ugep people of Cross River State, they live on and eat off the streets and […]
No woman should die while giving life… These words took on a whole new meaning for me when I lost my sister-in-law a few hours after she gave birth to her third child. She died from excessive bleeding after delivery (postpartum hemorrhage) and although the hospital said that they had done all they could, I’ve […]
“To whomsoever saved my life – ‘Thank you’ I owe you my blood” –Kid It wasn’t the first time a heavy and prolonged period had sent Mma to the emergency room. Her monthly flow usually left her feeling extremely weak. “Madam get blood, get blood”, the hospital officials kept telling me,” Mma’s mother says. “It […]
Immunisation is a clear success story and its value in preventing and curtailing infectious diseases cannot be overemphasised. It prevents an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths annually. What does immunisation have to do with preventing epidemics in Nigeria? Everything. In June 2017, Nigeria conducted a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) to assess the country’s capacity […]
As we entered Rwanda’s airspace and began our final descent to the Kigali International airport, I looked out of my window, eager to get my first glimpse of the city. The view of the skyline at night is breathtaking. The city spreads out over several hills and valleys, which is befitting as Rwanda is known as […]