Health
JUST IN: Suspected measles outbreak kills 10 children in FCT

No fewer than ten children have died due to suspected measles outbreak in Damangaza community, Lokogoma District, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Head of the Damangaza community, Mr James Budebo, disclosed this during a one-day outreach programme on Friday in Abuja.
The programme was organized by Primary Health Care, Damangaza and the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), a grassroots organisation dedicated to health interventions in underserved communities.
Suspected measles outbreak kills 10 children in FCTPublished on July 13, 2024By Matthew Atungwu.
No fewer than ten children have died due to suspected measles outbreak in Damangaza community, Lokogoma District, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Head of the Damangaza community, Mr James Budebo, disclosed this during a one-day outreach programme on Friday in Abuja.
The programme was organized by Primary Health Care, Damangaza and the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), a grassroots organisation dedicated to health interventions in underserved communities.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash.
It can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in young children and those with weak immune systems.
Budebo said vaccination was important in preventing measles and its complications, hence the need for widespread immunisation to protect the community.
He said the recent deaths were due to the suspected measles outbreak, adding that there have been challenges to vaccine acceptance within the community.
Mrs Chika Offor, CEO of VNDC, said the one-day outreach programme was a crucial . to the health crisis in Damangaza.
She said it was aimed at providing immediate assistance and laying the groundwork for long-term community resilience.
Offor said efforts were on to promote vaccine accessibility and provide clear, accurate information to address community concerns and misconceptions.
She said the deaths due to measles were preventable, adding that the organisation was committed to supporting community dialogue on vaccination and public health measures.
Ms Longtang Shawen, a Health Worker at PHC, Damangaza, said the outbreak exacerbated the community’s ongoing challenges with limited healthcare access.
She said education was important in empowering the community about vaccine-preventable diseases, sanitation and hygiene.
Shawen said vaccination was critical in preventing measles outbreaks, protecting individuals and ensuring community-wide immunity.
She urged the residents of the community to accept vaccination to guard against such preventable diseases and protect the vulnerable populations.
Chief Bello Musa, the Head of Damangaza Hausawa, said that the Public Health Department, FCT, had been notified of the situation, with previous visits made two weeks ago.Responding, Dr Teresa Nwachukwu, FCT Epidemiologist, said in an interview that she would investigate the current situation.
NAN recalls that data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) revealed that Abia, Anambra, Jigawa, Edo, Lagos and Bauchi accounted for a significant portion of reported measles cases by December 2023.
As of December 2023, specific states such as Abia (46), Anambra (23), Jigawa (21), Edo (18), Lagos (17), and Bauchi (14) collectively accounted for 64.6% of the 215 suspected measles cases reported.
Among these, 33 cases (15.4%) were confirmed, with no clinically compatible cases, while 43 cases (20%) were discarded and 139 cases (64.6%) were pending classification.
During the period from January to December 2023, major contributors to the 19,470 suspected measles cases included Borno (7,635), Yobe (1,325), Ogun (611), and Zamfara (601), with Lagos also significant at 563 cases, making up 52.2 per cent of the total.Of these suspected cases, 11,433 (58.72%) were confirmed, comprising 1,861 lab-confirmed, 3,120 epi-linked, and 6,452 clinically compatible cases.
The age group 9 – 59 months accounted for 7,317 (64%) of all confirmed cases.
A total of 89 deaths (CFR = 1.1%) were reported among confirmed cases, with 8,380 (73%) of these cases being individuals who had not received any measles vaccine (‘zero dose’).
By December 31, 2023, outbreaks were reported in 8 LGAs across 7 states, bringing the cumulative number of affected LGAs to 184 across 35 states for the year, with only FCT and Osun States not reporting any confirmed measles outbreaks,” it stated.
NAN also reports that NCDC data underscore the need for vaccination campaigns and public health interventions to curb measles outbreaks across Nigeria.
Health
Nurses Back to Work After Four-Day Nationwide Strike
A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike” signed by the association’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, confirmed the development.

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NAMMM) has suspended its nationwide warning strike.
A circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike” signed by the association’s National President, Haruna Mamman, and General Secretary, T.A. Shettima, confirmed the development.
The statement said that the decision was made during a virtual meeting of NANNM’s National Executive Council.
“The strike has been suspended. Nurses and midwives are to resume duty immediately,” he confirmed.
It partly reads, “NEC acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Federal Government in responding to the nine core demands of NANNM, particularly the commitment to clear timelines for implementation.
“In view of the formal agreement reached, and in line with the principle of dialogue and good faith, NEC hereby suspends the ongoing nationwide strike action with immediate effect.
“NEC has directed the national leadership to continue monitoring the implementation of the signed MoU and track the government’s compliance with the agreed timelines.
“State councils are directed to mobilise members for the immediate resumption of duty. ..”
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,”

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.”
Health
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)

• 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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