Health

Calotropis Procera (Sodom Apple) By Ali Elias In an era where health decisions are often dictated by prescriptions, price tags, and the fluctuating strength of the naira, an older, quieter system of knowledge risks fading into obscurity—one that does not shout, but suggests. Across generations, before laboratories and clinical trials became the dominant arbiters of truth, there existed a philosophy rooted in observation. It was neither mystical nor entirely scientific in the modern sense, yet it occupied a practical middle ground: the belief that nature leaves clues about its purpose, if only we pay attention. “Nature, most times, is suggestive to us. Have you observed that?” For many today, the answer may be no. Urban living has dulled that instinct. The intimacy our gr...

By Rareview At a time when ophthalmology is being reshaped by advanced microsurgery, bioengineering, and regenerative medicine, Saudi German Hospital, Dubai, continues to strengthen its specialist offerings through globally respected clinician-scientists. One such figure is Dr. Jeffrey N. Weiss, a pioneering retinal surgeon and biomedical innovator whose visiting consultancy at Saudi German Hospital, Dubai began about a year ago.Dr. Weiss brings to Dubai—and to patients from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and beyond—a rare combination of clinical excellence, scientific originality, and decades of first-in-the-world breakthroughs in retinal and optic nerve care. His presence reinforces Dubai’s growing role as an international destination for advanced eye treatment, while also openi...

Photo credit: Realnews By Ali Elias The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola in the central Kasai Province, marking its 16th such occurrence since the virus was first identified in 1976. Health Minister Roger Kamba announced the outbreak at a press briefing in Kinshasa on Thursday, reporting 28 suspected cases, including 15 fatalities, as investigations continue.The feared Zaire strain of the virus has re-emerged in the remote Bulape Health Zone, with four health workers among the suspected cases, raising concern over infection control in an already fragile system. Health authorities also note suspected cases in the neighboring Mweka Health Zone.The index patient, a 34-year-old pregnant woman, was admitted on August 20 exhibiting classic hemorrhagi...

photo courtesy: Realnews By Els William The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the Federal Government’s Oncology Centre in Enugu as a world-class facility that underscores President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to delivering life-changing health infrastructure to Nigerians. Idris stated this during a tour of the centre, leading a federal delegation to inspect the facility commissioned only weeks ago by the Ministers of Health and Finance. The centre is equipped with one of the most advanced cancer treatment machines in the world—technology that until now was only accessible abroad or in Lagos. According to the minister, the establishment of the Enugu Oncology Centre represents the practical expression of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, whi...

By Ono Yima  Medical experts have raised alarm over Nigeria’s staggering hepatitis burden, with an estimated 20 million people — about 10 percent of the population — believed to be carriers of the virus. Hepatitis B and C, which are the most prevalent forms, are particularly widespread in Northern Nigeria and are among the leading causes of liver cancer in the country.At an outreach marking the 2025 World Hepatitis Day in Abuja, Dr. Idile Justice, a gastroenterologist at Garki Hospital, warned that while the disease can be managed, it could be deadly if undetected and untreated. “Over 60 percent of liver diseases and liver cancers are caused by hepatitis B and C,” he said, stressing the need for early testing and vaccination.He noted that the viruses are primarily transmitted through bl...

NLNG, on Thursday, commissioned a state-of-the-art modern laboratory complex at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), reaffirming its commitment to improving access to quality healthcare across the country. The milestone is part of the company’s flagship Hospital Support Programme (HSP), an ongoing initiative aimed at improving Nigeria’s medical infrastructure and enhancing healthcare delivery nationwide. The commissioning is coming after a recent opening of a neonatal ward and intensive care unit at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba by the Company. The new facility, the tenth in the list of completed projects, is outfitted with advanced diagnostic technology, significantly boosting the hospital’s capacity for accurate and timely diagnosis. The laborator...

Source: Realnews By Ono Yima The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted and uncovered expired non-alcoholic beverages valued at N35 million in Kaduna State, reports News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in Kaduna, Andrew Tamanuwa, Deputy Director, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate at the NAFDAC Kaduna Office, disclosed that the interception followed a tip-off from a concerned citizen. According to Tamanuwa, the informant alerted NAFDAC on Sunday evening about two buses and a golf wagon loaded with expired beverages heading toward Kwanar Dangora in Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State. "Upon receiving the tip, our investigation and enforcement operatives acted swiftly. The vehicles were...

By Ali Elias According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a diphtheria outbreak has been confirmed in Edo State, with two recorded deaths and at least five confirmed cases. The development has prompted swift action from state health authorities and international partners. Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, Edo State Commissioner for Health, announced the outbreak on Tuesday in Benin City during an emergency response meeting attended by representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other public health stakeholders. “This is a serious cause for concern,” Oshiomhole said, warning of the potentially severe and life-threatening nature of diphtheria if not promptly treated. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the nose and throat. In ...

Image source: Wikipedia By Ali Elias The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has recorded a major breakthrough in HIV prevention, announcing that fewer than one per cent of babies born to HIV-positive mothers enrolled in its care have contracted the virus—a success rate comparable to international standards. This was revealed on Tuesday by Professor Oliver Ezechi, Director of Research at NIMR, during the institute’s monthly media chat in Lagos, an event designed to brief the public on current research milestones. According to Ezechi, over 7,000 women have participated in NIMR’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme nationwide, with 5,717 of them delivering their babies at NIMR’s health facility. Remarkably, in the past four years, no HIV-positiv...

By Ali Elias The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a dire warning about the escalating burden of breast cancer, with cases projected to increase by 38% globally by 2050. This alarming trend, highlighted in a new report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), also predicts a 68% rise in annual deaths from the disease. Published in Nature Medicine on Monday, the findings indicate that if current trends persist, the world will witness 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 million related deaths annually by mid-century. “The burden will be disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries, where access to early detection, treatment, and care remains limited,” the report warns. According to Dr. Joanne Kim, an IARC scientist and co-author o...