HEALTH NEWS OF THE WEEK

Cameroon starts world-first malaria mass vaccine rollout
The world's first routine vaccine program against malaria has started in Cameroon, in a move projected to save thousands of children's lives across Africa. The historic first jab was given to Daniella, a baby girl at a health facility near Yaoundé. This feat is coming after successful pilot campaigns in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi - where the vaccine reduced mortality by 13% of children of eligible age, according to UNICEF.

WHO Launches Web Version of Updated Guide to Empowering Adolescent Health
Dr. Anshu Banerjee, Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent and Ageing at the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the WHO unveiled a major milestone in its mission of improving adolescent health and well-being with the launch of the web version of its second edition Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!) guidance.

FG Launches Initiative For Improved Maternal Health Outcomes
Prof. Mohammad Ali Pate, the minister of Health and Social Welfare has expressed the federal government’s commitment to promoting a lifesaving initiative intended to improve quality maternal health outcomes. The minister, represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachallom at a press briefing in Abuja said that based on the 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience, the federal government has adopted the use of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) during pregnancy to improve maternal health.

Bridge Clinic Gets ISO 9001 Recertification
Bridge Clinic, a world-class fertility clinic in Nigeria, has been recertified with the International Standard Operations (ISO) 9001 Quality Management Certification for its commitment to standard international practices. The certification was issued following a meticulous assessment exercise by the Lead Auditor for Quality Austria, Dr. Peter Sögner.

Nigerian Government Grants Waivers For Employment Of Health Workers
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved hospital employment waivers for healthcare workers to alleviate the nation's scarcity of medical professionals and improve healthcare delivery. During an official visit to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the State Minister of Health, revealed this information.