Health and Life Style
UNICAL signs MoU with HMO on healthcare provision for students
In the quest for the provision of healthcare services to its students the University of Calabar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Health Management Organisation (HMO), United Healthcare International Limited (UHCI). adsbygoogle || []).push({}); js">
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Florence Obi, and the Managing Director of UHCI, Dr Kolawole Owoka, signed the agreement at the council chambers of the institution in Calabar on Wednesday.
Speaking, the vice-chancellor restated her administration’s commitment to revamping the institution’s health facilities to cater for the health needs of its staff and students.
Obi described the visit of the HMO as ‘timely and important,’ adding that it was in line with her administration’s resolve to provide adequate healthcare for the university community.
She commended UHCI for playing a pivotal role in healthcare delivery, especially as it had taken charge of the students’ tertiary insurance scheme in UNICAL with effect from the 2021/2022 academic session.
“It is a thing of joy to improve on an already deteriorated health structure. My administration is committed to revamping health facilities in the institution for effective service delivery,” she said.
The vice-chancellor called on the students to avail themselves of the opportunity by keying into the scheme, and assured UHCI of maximum support to enable it to live up to its expectations.
Obi added that with the introduction of the new health scheme, the UNICAL medical centre would be given a facelift and the drug store stocked with drugs.
Earlier, the Managing Director of UHCI, appreciated the vice-chancellor, saying that the health insurance scheme was already operational in 20 universities in the country.
Owoka said that the facility could be accessed by the students within 24 hours, in or out of campus, with the student’s identity card.
He emphasised that the era where drugs were out of stock would be history since the facility was planned, packaged and well programmed to accommodate students’ healthcare needs.
“The facility will not only be a health centre, but also a point of benefit in the area of development to the university in terms of corporate social responsibility,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director of Health Services in the institution, Dr Leku Ador, said the medical centre would join forces with UHCI to bridge the gap in the provision of adequate healthcare for students.
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Measles & Rubella vaccine: FCTA laments deficit of 1.2m unimmunized children, threatens to seal non compliance schools
By Wumi Tewogbadl, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Thursday, said out of 2.6 million that is the target, 1.6 million have been immunized and a deficit of 1.2 children unimmunized.
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And she blamed the situation on some major private schools, refusal to allow access of immunization officers to their children.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment, stated this while briefing media in Abuja.
Fasawe, lamented that those that are not compliying are denying such children their fundamental rights and this is unacceptable.
And, FCT Health Insurance Scheme [FHIS] supported 600 vaccination teams in the six Area councils with reflective jackets.
She said “However, while we celebrate this success, we must also confront the challenges that threaten the full realization of our campaign goals. It has come to our attention that several schools and institutions within the FCT refused access to vaccination teams.
“This non-compliance not only denied eligible children protection against measles and rubella but also disrupted the daily implementation plans of the campaign. Such actions are deeply concerning because they undermine public health gains and put our children at unnecessary risk.
“The Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003, as domesticated in the FCT, guarantees every child the right to health and protection from preventable diseases. Specifically, Sections 13 and 14 of the Act place a legal obligation on parents, guardians, and institutions — including schools — to ensure that every child is fully immunized.
“Denying a child access to vaccination is, therefore, not merely an administrative lapse; it is a violation of a fundamental child right”.
She also said for those schools who refused compliance, might be sanction and their schools can be sealed.
“Failure to comply with these directives will attract administrative sanctions under existing FCT Education and Public Health Regulations”, she noted.
She revealed that her secretariat have already started compliying the names of schools in Abuja, that refused to comply.
“In response to the current situation, the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat has taken the following actions:
Compiled a comprehensive list of non-compliant schools and institutions;
Initiated targeted advocacy and community sensitization activities;
Issued letters to affected schools reminding them of their legal responsibilities under the CRA; and
Finalized plans for a three-day mop-up exercise involving 132 vaccination teams to reach unvaccinated children across affected areas”, she noted.
In order to strengthen enforcement and ensure sustainability, she said, the Administration has approved the following directives for all public and private schools:
Mandatory immunization verification during admission, re-admission, or transfer;
Maintenance of a Child Health Register in every school;
Collaboration with nearby Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) for on-site immunization sessions;
Regular inclusion of immunization awareness in school assemblies and PTA meetings; and
Submission of monthly compliance reports through the Education Secretariat to HSES.
She commended the governing body of Stella Maris School, Abuja, for their full support of the ongoing immunization drive and their eagerness to welcome the vaccination team and being an example of compliance.
She therefore appealed to all parents to ensure their children are allowed to be vaccinated in line with the Child Health Act at school. Immunization is safe, effective, and essential for protecting every child.
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Health and Life Style
2025 World Polio Day: WHO raises alarm over 54% drop in virus detections in Africa
By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja
The World Health Organization (WHO), on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 raised alarm over 54% drop in virus detection in Africa.
This was revealed by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, Message in commemoration of 2025 World Polio Day, in Abuja.
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He lamented that two countries in Africa reported type 1 cases, 14 countries type 2 and 3.
He said, “These collective efforts are showing results. Comparing the number of African countries with active
type 2 poliovirus outbreaks between 2024 and 2025 (as of October) declined from 24 to 14, and total
virus detections dropped by 54%. Two countries reported type 1 cases, 14 countries type 2 and 3
reported type 3 based on data as of October, 2025.
“In May 2025, Madagascar officially declared the end of its circulating variant poliovirus type 1
outbreak after comprehensive response measures and sustained surveillance.
eProgress is being sustained by stronger systems. By mid-2025, 11 WHO-supported laboratories had
expanded genomic sequencing capacity, while six began piloting advanced techniques. Notably,
Uganda’s Sanger facility was accredited early this year, improving detection and variant tracking.
Environmental surveillance has also expanded significantly. Today, 98% of countries in the WHO
African Region have systems to monitor wastewater and sewage for polioviruses, providing early
warnings of possible transmission, and enabling rapid response before the virus spreads”.
He noted that the decline in routine immunization coverage, is due to interruptions to vaccination
campaigns, insecurity and vaccine hesitancy continue to pose risks.
“To truly end polio, countries must sustain cross-border coordination, reach zero-dose and under-immunized children, expand surveillance and sequencing capacity, and maintain high-quality outbreak response.
Ending polio in Africa is about more than halting transmission. It means strengthening the systems,
workforce and networks that sustain immunization, outbreak preparedness and resilient health
services. The task ahead demands continued commitment, adequate financing and coordinated
action at every level.
The last mile is always the hardest, but it is also the most important”, he said.
The theme for this year is, ‘End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere, is a call to ensure that
no child, in any setting, is left unprotected’.
He therefore taaked, “On this World Polio Day, let us renew our determination to reach every child, with every vaccine, everywhere – and to consign polio to history, forever.
“Between January and October 2025, 15 African countries reached nearly 200 million children with at
least one dose of polio vaccine through supplementary immunization rounds. Thirteen countries
mounted synchronized campaigns, including in highly challenging contexts. In the Horn of Africa,
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia jointly vaccinated more than 18 million children in two
consecutive rounds, demonstrating the impact of regional collaboration.
“In the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel, cross-border synchronization has been key to reaching children in
border communities. In April 2025, Ministers of Health launched a coordinated campaign to protect
83 million children across the sub-region”.
He however noted that 98% of countries in the WHO African Region have systems to monitor wastewater and sewage for polioviruses, providing early warnings of possible transmission, and enabling rapid response before the virus spreads.
He noted that digital innovation is improving how frontline teams are supported and how data is used.
“More than 850 000 frontline workers across the region receive digital payments through mobile-money
platforms, with 95% paid within 10 days of campaign completion. This has enhanced accountability
and timeliness, especially in remote areas. Geospatial mapping by the WHO AFRO GIS Centre haalso helped countries locate and reach children in previously missed populations, including nomadic
and border communities”, he said.
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Health and Life Style
NARD President Renews Call for Reinstatement of 5 Sacked Doctors
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has renewed its call to the Federal Government to reinstate five doctors sacked by the management of Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL).
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The sacked doctors were allegedly dismissed in October 2024, May and August 2025 by FTHL management led by former Chief Medical Director, Dr Olatunde Alabi, for their involvement in unionism activities against the hospital management.
Addressing a press conference in Lokoja, NARD President, Dr. Muhammed Usman Suleiman, said the association is saying “enough is enough” as the sacked doctors have been out of work for over a year.
Suleiman recalled that NARD during its recent 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM), gave the Federal Government a 30-day deadline to meet a series of outstanding welfare and policy demands affecting its members.
“Today is the 18th day of the 30-day ultimatum that NARD gave to the Federal Government to implement our demands, among which is the reinstatement of five doctors sacked at FTH Lokoja.
“NARD’s demands include the reinstatement of the sacked doctors, payment of unpaid promotion and salary arrears dating back to five years, unpaid 25 and 35 per cent increment and entitlements,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria is facing a crisis in the health sector, with a ratio of one doctor servicing over 9,000 Nigerians, compared to the standard ratio of one doctor to 600 people.
Suleiman stressed that the federal government must be holistic in its approach to addressing the issues in the health sector.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action, warning that if the situation is not addressed, it might lead to a national disaster.
Suleiman expressed NARD readiness to engage in dialogue with the federal government to resolve the issue.
“We need sacked doctors back to reduce workloads in hospital. We inform Nigerians about Doctors’ plight.
“NARD ready to discuss with federal government to reinstate sacked doctors,” he said.
Suleiman stressed the need for the continuation of the current ongoing collective bargain between the federal government and Nigerian doctors as well as other health workers without further delay.
“That is the only way to curb brain drain. “NARD is saying enough is enough,” he emphasised.
Suleiman commended the new Acting CMD of FTHL for his efforts and appealed to him to partner with NARD in their struggle for justice for the sacked doctors.
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