Health

JUST IN: Suspected measles outbreak kills 10 children in FCT

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2024

425 Views

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.

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.

Related Topics:Enugu Featured Measles outbreak

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Health

Nairobi Hospital Beckoning Nigerians Seeking Treatment Abroad

The hospital also holds internationally recognised certifications in pathology, laboratory medicine, cardiac care and stroke services.

Published

4 days ago

July 17, 2026

OCHEFA

52 Views

A report by Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH), has disclosed that Africa loses an estimated $7 billion every year as patients travel abroad for medical treatment, with more than 300,000 Africans travelling to India alone yearly in search of specialist care.

The hospital disclosed this at a media roundtable in Lagos, where it called for a stronger investment in Africa’s healthcare systems, while positioning its Nairobi facility as an alternative destination for Nigerians who currently seek treatment in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Chief Operating Officer of the hospital, Khurram Jamal, attributed the continued outflow of patients and healthcare spending to shortages of specialist services, inconsistent quality standards, fragmented medical travel pathways and the perception that quality healthcare was only available outside Africa.

According to him, reversing the trend requires building healthcare systems that inspire confidence rather than relying on appeals to patriotism.

He maintained that patients would only choose African hospitals if they consistently met international standards.

Jamal said Aga Khan University Hospital was the first in the region to attain Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and has maintained the certification through successive reaccreditations.

He added that the hospital also holds internationally recognised certifications in pathology, laboratory medicine, cardiac care and stroke services.

Health

[UPDATES ] Nurse Mary Habila : Umahi clarifies possible cause of death

The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist,” Umahi said.

Published

5 days ago

July 16, 2026

OCHEFA

62 Views

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on Thursday said that Miss Mary Habila, the nurse who died at a guest house within his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, spoke with her boyfriend on the night before her death and complained of a nosebleed.

Umahi, who addressed journalists for the first time since the incident, described the late Habila as “like a daughter” to him and called for an autopsy to determine the actual cause of her death.

Habila, a nurse with the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, died on June 27, 2026, in a guest house located within the minister’s residence in Umunaga, Uburu.

The minister clarified that the deceased was a nurse and not a physiotherapist, as had been reported in some media outlets.

” The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist,” Umahi said.

Narrating the events leading to her death, Umahi said Habila spoke with her boyfriend on the night before she was found dead and informed him that she was experiencing a nosebleed.

She told the boyfriend she was bleeding from the nose. The boyfriend advised her to report it to her boss. She later told him the bleeding had stopped.

“He then said he would end the call so she could rest. She pleaded with him not to end the conversation, but he did.

About three minutes later, he called back and she was no longer answering her phone,” the minister said.

He further disclosed that Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition at Turkish Hospital in Abuja, with the medical expenses paid by his family.

Health

Sokoto upgrades 92 PHCs to national compliance standards

The upgraded facilities now operate in line with the standards of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, with skilled birth attendants, functional labour wards, essential drugs, medical equipment and improved infrastructure.

Published

5 days ago

July 16, 2026

OCHEFA

50 Views

The Sokoto State Government said on Thursday 92 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state’s 23 local government areas have attained national compliance standards under the Safe Delivery Initiative (SDI).

In a statement the government assured that all 244 designated facilities would be upgraded before the end of 2026.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Sokoto, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, said that the initiative was transforming primary healthcare through improved infrastructure, skilled manpower, essential medicines and stronger accountability.

“Today, we are launching the third phase of the Safe Delivery Initiative with 75 facilities that have fulfilled all the national requirements. Together with those completed in the earlier phases, we now have 92 functional and compliant primary healthcare centres,” he said.

He said the upgraded facilities now operate in line with the standards of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, with skilled birth attendants, functional labour wards, essential drugs, medical equipment and improved infrastructure.