By Atinuke Akande-Alegbe and Bashar Abubakar (Lead Writers)

Healthcare, according to the Alma-Ata declaration of 1978, is a basic human right of all people regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The declaration went further to identify primary health care as a gateway to achieving optimal healthcare for all. Primary health care is so important that it can, if adequately funded, cater to more than 80% of an individual’s health care needs throughout his or her life. For primary health centres (PHCs) to operate at their optimal capacity and serve the public with the necessary care, they must be equipped with…

Vivianne Ihekweazu (Lead writer)

On the day marking one year since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Nigeria, this article reflects on the experience and lessons learnt from the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker as she led the response in Ogun State. What a difference a year makes. Three hundred and sixty days that changed our lives forever. The 27th of February 2020 will forever be etched in the memories of residents of Ogun State. The Chinese government had alerted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to a cluster of patients with pneumonia in early January 2020. At…

Editor’s Note: In today’s Thought Leadership Piece, Dr. Okonkwor Oyor of Hygeia HMO explains the looming threat that ACT-resistant malaria poses to the long global struggle to “roll back malaria”, and shares insights into what Nigeria must begin to do if we are to stall the spread of drug-resistant malaria today.

Malaria has been with us for as long as we can remember. The Chinese, Egyptians, and ancient Greeks have documented evidence of diseases we believe to be malaria. But until 1880, no one knew the organism responsible for malaria. Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran discovered malaria parasites and helped shift…

By Olubunmi Oyebanji (Lead Writer)

“Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community.” — Adelaide Hoodless

In Nigeria, maternal health care is fragmented, so maternal health services are provided by various service providers in the public sector, private sector, informal providers and even religious institutions. In communities, culture and tradition influence maternal health-seeking behaviour and consequently, women turn to older women in the community or traditional birth attendants for maternal health care, particularly when they are about to give birth.

Health education, community mobilisation and skilled birth attendants are key to reversing…

By Olubunmi Oyebanji (Lead Writer)

On the 15th of February every year, the world observes the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD). It is a global collaborative campaign designed to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, as well as the survivors and their families. A cancer diagnosis is upsetting at any age, but especially when the patient is a child. The ICCD helps foster an increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges impacting children and adolescents with cancer and the survivors.

Globally, cancer is surpassing infectious diseases as the leading…

Editor’s Note: This week’s piece comes from researchers Dr. Chizoba Wonodi, Chisom Obi-Jeff, Dr Carleigh Krubiner, Elana Felice Jaffe, Dr. Ruth Karron, and Dr. Ruth Faden. They analyze the rise of conspiracy theories during public health crises like the current coronavirus pandemic and explore who is most vulnerable to conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines and why people display vaccine hesitancy. The research is part of COVER, a six-month Wellcome-funded project led by researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and implemented in Nigeria by Direct Consulting and Logistics.

Less than 12 months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared…

By Rabson Kondowe and Feston Malekezo (Lead Writers)

“I thought I was going to die, I nearly gave birth on a ship,” Lucy Chirambo said somberly.

It was in the wee hours of a cold July in 2016 when Chirambo started showing labour signs. Without hesitation, her husband hastily took her to Tchalo Health Centre, run by a church, Church of Central Africa Presbytarian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia, in the village of Tchalo, west of Rumphi District in Northern Malawi. Due to the complications in her pregnancy, Chirambo was referred to a better-equipped health facility, David Gordon Memorial Hospital, run…

By Adaobi Ezeokoli (Lead Writer)

Maina Modu is the programme manager for Routine Immunisation in Borno State, working with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA). He coordinates the state emergency routine immunisation coordination centre activities.

Borno State’s routine immunisation emergency coordination centre is nestled at Maiduguri’s Maman Shuwa Memorial Hospital, in the Polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Modu and his team work with partners and the state to ensure that routine immunisation (RI) continues to happen in the state. They coordinate logistics, service delivery, and community engagement activities.

Modu said his team has targets on how many children…