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JUST IN: Ogun confirms Lassa fever outbreak as NYSC member dies

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A 25-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), has reportedly died of Lassa fever at a secondary health facility in ljebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It wwas learnt that the female corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State, was brought to the health facility last Tuesday and later died same day.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, on Wednesday.

Coker also confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

The statement reads, “Ogun State has confirmed a case of Lassa Fever and as such declared Lassa fever outbreak.

“The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State and was brought to on of our secondary health facility in ljebu North LGA on 18th March 2025 and later died same day.

“ Lassa fever is a viral Haemorrhagic disease that presents with High grade fever, Headache, General body weakness, Sore throat, Muscle pain, Cough, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Chest pain and Unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.

”Coker urged members of the community to report to the hospital if any of the listed symptoms is noticed.

“We implore members of the community to promptly report to the hospital if they notice any of these symptoms.

Any case of febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise an index of suspicion for Lassa fever!

“We implore all Health facilities in Ogun State, public and private, to step up Infection Prevention and Control measures and to encourage compliance by all health facility staff.“

Healthcare worker that suspects Lassa fever in a patient, are advised to call their local government disease surveillance and notification officer (LGA DSNO) whose numbers are placed in our health facilities or call State Disease surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881),” she added.

The commissioner, however reiterated the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s dedication to protecting the health of the citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.

She added that the ministry in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team at ljebu North East is keeping the situation under control with enhanced surveillance and community engagement and mobilization for effective response.

Health

Nigerian Nurses in Govt -Owned Hospitals Beginning Nationwide Strike Tonight

“Private hospitals are not included. This is because for now the private practitioner nurses are not spread over Nigeria,”

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Twenty-five thousand nurses, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, will begin a seven-day nationwide strike, tonight.

The strike is in response to issues which include poor remuneration, staff shortages, unpaid allowances, and unsafe working conditions.

On July 14, 2025, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total healthcare shutdown.

The National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said that the strike would involve a total withdrawal of services across all federal health institutions.

The 15-day ultimatum ends by Tuesday, July 29, 2025, by midnight, and the warning strike commences on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 12.01am.

“The action would include 74 federal hospitals – teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, specialist hospitals like orthopaedic, neuro-psychiatric, and eye centres, as well as all general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government areas.”

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UK doctors on five-day strike, shun PM’s plea

Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.

(AFP)

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• Uk doctors on strike / AFP

Thousands of UK doctors launched a five-day strike early Friday after talks with the Labour government for a new pay increase failed to reach a deal.

Doctors were out on picket lines outside hospitals after negotiations with the government went down the wire late Thursday, without reaching an accord.

The move comes after the doctors accepted a pay rise offer totalling 22.3 per cent over two years in September, soon after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party took power.

Resident doctors — those below consultant level — have said they felt they had “no choice” but to strike again to reverse “pay erosion” since 2008.

Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.

Launching a strike “will mean everyone loses,” Starmer wrote in the Times, highlighting the added strain it would put on the already struggling National Health Service (NHS).

He appealed to the doctors not to “follow” their union, the British Medical Association (BMA) “down this damaging road.

“Our NHS and your patients need you, ” Starmer warned.” Lives will be blighted by this decision,” Starmer warned.

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ODODO RESTORES MEDICINE PROGRAMME AT PAAU ANYIGBA AFTER A DECADE

Upon assuming office in 2024, Governor Ododo directed a fresh review of the requirements for restoring the MBBS programme and gave immediate approval for the provision of outstanding facilities.

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The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full re-accreditation for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme at the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, following a 10-year suspension.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams.

He described the approval as a landmark achievement driven by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to revitalising healthcare and medical education in the state.

Dr. Adams recalled that the MBBS programme was originally accredited and commenced in 2012 at the then Kogi State University, but the accreditation was withdrawn in 2015 after a resource verification exercise by the NUC revealed the absence of key infrastructure and academic requirements.

He noted that the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello, upon assuming office in 2016, swiftly intervened by approving full scholarships and facilitating the transfer of affected third-year medical students to other institutions. “Today, over 90% of those students have successfully graduated,” he said.

Alh. Yahaya Bello also approved the construction of a state-of-the-art clinical complex at the university, which has since been completed and put to use.

In addition, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Marietu Tenuche, was mandated to commence all basic sciences and allied health programmes required to support a robust MBBS curriculum—an instruction that has since been carried out.

Upon assuming office in 2024, Governor Ododo directed a fresh review of the requirements for restoring the MBBS programme and gave immediate approval for the provision of outstanding facilities.

These included a multi-purpose medical students’ teaching laboratory, lecture halls, a library, consultant offices, and student hostels.

“These projects received prompt approval from His Excellency, and I personally represented him at the official handing-over of project sites to contractors,” Dr. Adams stated, noting that construction work began immediately and is now at an advanced stage.

Following the infrastructural and academic upgrades, the university invited the NUC for a fresh round of resource verification.

Based on the successful outcome of the exercise, the commission has now granted approval for the full re-establishment of the MBBS programme at the university.

“This is a major milestone—ten years after the initial withdrawal—and it signals a new era of medical training in Kogi State,” the statement read.

Dr. Adams described the development as part of Governor Ododo’s holistic strategy to expand the state’s healthcare workforce.

He highlighted other strategic investments in medical and health education across the state, including the College of Nursing in Obangede, the College of Health Sciences in Idah, the College of Medical Sciences at CUSTECH, Osara, and now, the fully restored College of Medical Sciences at PAAU, Anyigba.“Governor Ododo’s commitment to healthcare is not in words, but in action.

These projects are not just about infrastructure—they are about the future of healthcare delivery in Kogi State,” he said.

Dr. Adams concluded by expressing gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the initiative, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to completing all ongoing infrastructure projects supporting the MBBS programme.

Also reacting to the development, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the re-accreditation as another promise kept.

“During his campaign, Governor Ododo promised to ensure the return of the MBBS programme to Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba. Today, he has fulfilled that promise. He continues to make difficult tasks look simple with his results-driven style of leadership.

This is a remarkable demonstration of an unyielding commitment to improving healthcare resources in the state,” Fanwo stated.

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