Health
IPOB to NAFDAC: Return seized goods from Onitsha drug market
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to return goods seized from traders at Ogbo Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group alleged that NAFDAC officials conducted a midnight raid on the market, blocking CCTV cameras, breaking into shops, and confiscating goods under the claim of targeting fake drugs.
IPOB criticized the method of the operation, questioning the agency’s approach and transparency.
While IPOB reaffirmed its stance against the sale of counterfeit drugs, it raised concerns over the alleged seizure of traders’ goods in their absence, the blocking of surveillance cameras, and the lack of evidence proving that all confiscated products were counterfeit.
The group posed several questions to NAFDAC, including: Why was the operation conducted at midnight? Why were CCTV cameras blocked?
Where is the evidence that the confiscated drugs were fake? Why was the entire market sealed, affecting both innocent and guilty traders?
IPOB urged NAFDAC to adopt a more professional and transparent approach to combating fake drugs, suggesting that the agency establish permanent offices in drug markets to ensure proper regulation rather than conducting surprise raids.
The statement also called for collaboration between NAFDAC and the Anambra State Government to relocate the drug market to the new Oba Drug Market, ensuring that only licensed and certified dealers are allowed to operate.
Health
From South Africa to US, ‘Cicada’ COVID-19 variant spreading
According to the latest available data from the health authorities, this variant has been spotted in 23 countries and in wastewater from 25 US states.
• New Cicada COVID variant detected across US states.
“Cicada” a nickname given to BA.3.2, a COVID-19 variant, is spreading around the world , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Like most other variants, the symptoms of the Cicada variant are the same as those of other COVID-19 variant infections.
According to the CDC, these includes:
Runny or stuffy nose, Fever, Headache, Fatigue, Sneezing, Sore throat,Cough, Muscle pain or body aches Vomiting, Diarrhea, and Changes to the sense of smell or taste.
According to the latest available data from the health authorities, this variant has been spotted in 23 countries and in wastewater from 25 US states.
In November 2024, BA.3.2 popped up in a nose swab of a 5-year-old boy in South Africa, and it looked very different than its parent virus.
It was first picked up in the US last summer, in a traveler from the Netherlands.
In January , the first clinical sample from a sick patient turned out to be BA.3.2.
It appears to be circulating in the US at low levels, although testing has been scaled back since the height of the pandemic, so it may be more widespread than currently known.
Health
Fire Razes Ebonyi Ministry of Health Section
” Different vaccines like BCG, penta, HPV vaccine etc that were all stored in that cold room were burnt”.
A section of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, weekend , was gutted by fire with property worth hundreds of millions of naira destroyed.
The inferno destroyed the cold store housing immunisation and solar units which contained vaccines, vaccine carriers, cold chain boxes, laptops, documents, five refrigerators, two solar refrigerators, 45 solar batteries, inverters, including hospitals beds and foams received from the National Primary Health Care Development Authority (NPHCDA), Abuja, for distribution to local government areas across the state, among others.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, lamented the disaster and thanked God that no life was lost. He thanked the Commissioner for Power and Energy, the fire service personnel, and the security men who alerted him on time for their prompt response, which made the fire not spread to other parts of the building.
He said, “Different vaccines like BCG, penta, HPV vaccine etc that were all stored in that cold room were burnt”.
Health
Health Workers Protest Against Regulatory Bill
They maintain that all health professions have their regulatory bodies, and that the new bill was seeking to make other health professionals second-class to medical doctors.
Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations are protesting against the proposed health sector regulatory bill, which is before the National Assembly.
They said that if allowed to pass, the law would subject every medical profession to the regulation of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
They maintain that all health professions have their regulatory bodies, and that the new bill was seeking to make other health professionals second-class to medical doctors.
The protesters plan to also go to the National Assembly, where they hope to present their case to lawmakers.
Onyejeocha resigns as Minister of State for Labour
No force can defeat Tinubu in 2027 –Umahi
Labour Party to hold presidential primary April 28
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Business3 days ago33 Nigerian Banks Beat CBN’s Recapialisation with ₦4.65trn Combined Capital Base
-
Sports3 days agoFirstBank Sponsors Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship 2026
-
Politics2 days agoBREAKING: INEC Withdraws Recognition of David Mark’s ADC
-
News2 days agoJUST IN: Tinubu Heads to Jos Tomorrow, Postpones Ogun Trip for 5-State Visits
-
Entertainment3 days agoSuper Eagles Iwobi to launch music album ‘More To Life’
-
News3 days agoEaster: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays
-
Politics3 days agoArise News Anchor Ikokwu in Political Race for Reps Seat
-
News3 days agoGas Leak in Ogun School: 30 Students, Teacher Hospitalised