Handwashing - A Lifesaver Too Many Have Had to Live Without: OpEd

Good hygeine such as washing hands can help kids and all of us prevent infectious diseases from spreading. Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch

By Dr. Adaeze Oreh (Guest Writer) Two million, sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred people — that is the number of persons currently infected with the new coronavirus as at publication, and every day that number steadily climbs, sending countries and people across the world into fear and panic. Ever since COVID-19 came on the world’s stage in December […]

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Covid19 Thought Leadership Series

Mind over COVID19: Simple tips to protect your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak

Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

In the past three months, millions of people around the globe have been urged to stay home and take various steps to protect themselves from the COVID-19 disease. As the virus slowly gains ground in Africa, there may be additional challenges on a continent where healthcare systems are already under strain, with limited access for […]

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Covid19 Thought Leadership Series

A Call to Serenity, Courage and Wisdom During COVID-19: OpEd

Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch

I have been on a social media break, which just happened to coincide with the unfurling of the COVID-19 phenomenon. Peeking briefly into Twitter last week, I was stunned at some of the reactions I was seeing in relation the COVID-19 pandemic. It led me to want to share a few personal reflections as a […]

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Infectious Disease Thought Leadership Series

Coronavirus: Time to take social distancing seriously in Nigeria

Social distancing is one of the proven measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, so we must learn to change our behaviour to save lives. Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

The coronavirus pandemic is a crisis and the world is seeing the number of people affected increasing rapidly everyday. To control the spread of the virus, several measures have been implemented in different countries. ‘Social distancing’ and ‘self-isolation’ are phrases you might have heard more of recently and are two critical interventions being put in […]

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Thought Leadership Series

In the shadow of Climate Change: The need to focus on better water quality in Nigeria

Editor’s Note: For World Water Day, celebrated annually on March 22nd, Nigeria Health Watch Events Manager Thelma Thomas writes this Thought Leadership Piece exploring the critical importance water plays in improving community health and the impact that climate change has on access to water. She outlines steps Nigeria must take if it is to attain […]

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Thought Leadership Series

Breathe In, Breathe Out: Nigeria’s Air Quality a Silent Health Hazard

Air pollution has been declared a global public health emergency because it is associated with numerous health risks. Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: In this week’s Thought Leadership Piece, Nigeria Health Watch Programme Coordinator Patience Adejo explores the state of Nigeria’s air quality, how it affects the health and well-being of Nigerians, and what needs to be done to ensure we can pass on a country with cleaner air to our children.  Thirty-nine year old widow […]

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Thought Leadership Series

Elevate Women’s Voices: Nigeria’s health sector must become #EachforEqual – IWD2020

Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day marked annually on March 8, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women — while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. The first International Women’s Day occurred in 1911, supported by over one million people. This year’s campaign theme for IWD is #EachforEqual, […]

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MNCH Thought Leadership Series

Midwives are a lifeline for better maternal health, Nigeria must invest in them: OpEd

It is time for Nigeria to increase investment in midwives, so that they in turn can save our mothers and babies. Photo source: EpiAFRIC

Editor’s Note: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Year 2020 as The Year of the Nurse and The Midwife. In this Thought Leadership OpEd for Nigeria Health Watch, Olajumoke Adebayo, a Young Midwifery Leader at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), writes about the critical roles that midwives play in reducing maternal mortality […]

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Health Thought Leadership Series

Our bleeding wound: Are Nigeria’s doctors justified for leaving? OpEd

Nigeria's health system is bleeding out in the area of Human Resources for Health as health workers leave the country for other climes. Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: A U.S news politics report that recently trended online showed how Nigerian immigrants have carved a niche in the United States as highly skilled workers. The numbers are impressive, with Nigerians ranking highest in the percentage of immigrants with a bachelor’s degree, at 59%. The applause for this is commendable, yet it also […]

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Thought Leadership Series

Our Love, In Sickness and In Health

Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: Ahead of Valentine’s Day on February 14, Nigeria Health Watch Social Media Analyst Michael Atima weaves a tale of romance that takes a nose dive when the unexpected happens, and reminds us all that love is sweet, but sweeter when both partners have access to the best gift money can buy — quality, affordable healthcare. […]

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Thought Leadership Series

The Heart to Help: Improving women and children’s health through philanthropy

The Obijackson Children's hospital located in Okija Anambra State is funded by the Obijackson Foundation and provides specialists pediatric and obstetric services. Photo credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: The Obijackson Foundation in December 2019 threw a week-long Christmas festival, which included a Christmas party for 7,000 children in Anambra. EpiAFRIC team members, Chibuike Alagboso, Aloysius Ugwu and Thelma Thomas, who attended the event, write about how the Foundation’s has fared running the Children’s Hospital and the opportunities for potential partnerships to […]

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Covid19 Nigeria Thought Leadership Series

Four pics, One Health: Can a joint “Approach” protect Nigeria from emerging disease outbreaks?

Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: The novel Coronavirus has taken centre stage as the virus spreads from China into other parts of the world and from animal-human to human to human infection. This brings to light the critical importance of understanding how animal health influences the spread of epidemics globally. In this week’s Thought Leadership piece, Dr. Ibrahim […]

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Thought Leadership Series

Dr. Ben Anyene: A Visionary Health Reformer who spoke Truth to Power

Dr Ben Anyene was a health reformer, a visionary and a passionate advocate for Nigeria's health sector. Photo Credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: Dr. Benjamin C. N. Anyene passed away on December 29th 2019. He was a versatile and important part of the health reforms that defined the Nigerian health sector from the 2000s. In this Thought Leadership Piece, Health Systems and Policy expert Felix Abrahams Obi, who was one of Dr. Anyene’s mentees, highlights the […]

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Thought Leadership Series

Mind Over Matter: Improving Mental Health among Nigerian Men

Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch

Editor’s Note: Mental Health is an incredibly misunderstood issue in Nigeria, as it is in most parts of the world. In this week’s Thought Leadership piece, Nigeria Health Watch Program Manager Dara Ajala-Damisa writes about the need to focus particularly on the mental health needs of men. This comes on the heels of the release […]