Health News Of The Week

Nigeria at Risk of Missing 2030 Health Goals: WHO Urges Urgent Action on Maternal and Child Mortality
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that Nigeria is falling short in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. With only six years left, the country is unlikely to meet targets for reducing maternal and child mortality and ending epidemics such as tuberculosis and malaria. Dr. Walter Kazadi-Mulombo of WHO during the maternal health policy dialogue on “Scaling Maternal Health Innovations in Nigeria: Learning, Challenges, and Opportunities” by Nigeria Health Watch, emphasized that despite global commitments, Nigeria faces significant gaps in key health interventions, including family planning and childhood illness treatment. The situation is particularly dire for maternal health, with increasing mortality rates. Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, Special Advisor to the President on Health, assured that the government is committed to reducing maternal deaths and improving health outcomes through accelerated efforts and targeted policies.

 Nigeria Reports 170 New Cholera Cases and 3 Deaths Across Three States in One Week
Nigeria reported 170 suspected cholera cases and three deaths across Lagos, Kogi, and Zamfara from July 15th to July 21st, 2024, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 1.8%, down from 2.9% the previous week. Since the year's start, Nigeria has recorded 4,809 suspected cases and 156 deaths (CFR of 3.2%) across 35 states, up from 2,740 cases and 83 deaths (CFR of 3.0%) during the same period in 2023. Cholera, caused by ingesting Vibrio cholerae, spreads through contaminated water and food. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has distributed medical supplies, supported states' responses, and trained personnel on cholera prevention and management.

Healthcare-Associated Infections Cost Nigeria $4.5 Billion in 2023, Strain Healthcare System
The Nigerian government reports that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are causing a significant financial strain on the healthcare system, with an estimated cost of $4.5 billion (N7.2 trillion) in 2023. Tochi Okwor, the Coordinator of the National Infection Prevention and Control Programme at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted that HAIs account for 3.8% of the nation's healthcare expenditure and about 0.94% of the GDP. These infections, often acquired in hospitals due to inadequate infection control, include surgical site infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.