Health news.
New tuberculosis vaccines expected to reach the market from 2029 could save an estimated 7.3 million lives and generate up to $135 billion in economic benefits for low- and middle-income countries by 2050, ending more than a century of reliance on a single licensed TB vaccine.
The WHO reports 1,153 new mpox cases and 7 deaths across 11 African countries in a six-week period, with Madagascar recording the highest burden amid surveillance challenges
Health workers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries, allowances, and poor working conditions, paralysing services at Nigeria's foremost teaching hospital. The strike, declared after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum to the hospital management and the Federal Government, has left thousands of patients stranded and raised fresh concerns about the collapse of tertiary healthcare in the country.
The World Health Organization has issued a stark warning that non-communicable diseases now account for 37 per cent of all deaths in Africa, up from 24 per cent in 2000, with nearly two-thirds of these deaths occurring prematurely. As World Patient Safety Day 2026 focuses on "Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases," WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohammed Janabi has called for urgent action to protect millions of patients from avoidable harm during long-term treatment.
Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after new diagnoses surged to 2,016 in 2025 , 16 times the level recorded in 2019 , with an estimated one in 60 adults now living with the virus. Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu warned that an "outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient," as injecting drug use, low condom use, and mother-to-child transmission drive an epidemic that has claimed the lives of 18 babies in a single year.
Ultimate Health HMO boss Lekan Ewenla advocates for a shift from out-of-pocket payments to preventive health insurance, highlighting diaspora remittances and informal sector packages as key drivers for reducing sudden deaths
The United Nations has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has now claimed nearly 3,500 lives and infected over 7,200 people across 62 health zones, risks spiraling further out of control as a critical funding shortfall leaves responders scrambling to contain the virus. With the $1.3 billion humanitarian response only 49 per cent funded and weekly cases doubling in parts of North Kivu, aid officials are pleading for international emergency medical teams and
WASPEN President Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds advocates for integrating clinical nutrition care into Nigeria's healthcare system, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to tackle hospital malnutrition
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a stark warning to states and local governments that Nigeria has a narrow window to close critical gaps in Lassa fever preparedness before the peak transmission season begins. With infections among healthcare workers rising, funding delays persisting, and many treatment facilities lacking functional capacity, the agency has launched an Accelerated Readiness Plan and warned that waiting for cases to rise is no longer an option.
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has been ranked as Nigeria's best hospital in the 2026 Global Health Rankings, cementing its reputation as the nation's premier tertiary healthcare institution. The ranking, which assesses hospitals across clinical outcomes, patient safety, research output and healthcare innovation, places UCH ahead of other leading Nigerian facilities, reaffirming its status as the pioneer teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Zamfara State has recorded 44 deaths and 367 suspected cases of diphtheria, prompting the government to extend school closures and activate emergency response teams across all 14 local government areas
Despite being preventable, Lassa fever and diphtheria continue to claim thousands of lives in Nigeria due to critical gaps in diagnostics, sanitation, and routine immunization.
