Health

Ozempic Revolutionizing Obesity Treatment?

GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound lead weight loss with 6-20% reductions, suppress appetite, and reduce heart/kidney risks. Celebrity demand caused shortages and off-label use; insurance restricts access. Expert Dr. Kelly Wood highlights diabetes benefits, supply challenges, and future pipeline drugs.

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8 Sneaky Asthma Triggers Hiding in Plain Sight

Asthma inflames airways, worsened by common and unexpected triggers like thirdhand smoke, weather shifts, stress, insect bites, nitrogen dioxide, chemicals, fragrances, and pets. Article details each trigger's risks and avoidance tips, plus strategies to lower overall exposure including HEPA filters and unscented products.

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Kwara Healthcare Truth: Data Debunks Doctor Crisis

Kwara State Health Commissioner refutes claims of one doctor per 12,000 patients, highlighting reforms since 2019: 193+ PHC renovations, KWASUTH accreditation and partnerships for teaching hospitals, sustained C-section surgeries (116 in Jan, 151 in Feb), 1000+ recruitments, new MRI machines, and expanding health insurance via KWHIA.

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Pepsodent's 'Do The 2': Nigeria's Brush Twice Revolution

Pepsodent, alongside the Nigerian Dental Association and Federal Ministry of Health, launched the 2026 World Oral Health Day 'Do The 2' campaign, promoting brushing twice daily and biannual dentist visits to combat cavities, gum disease, and links to systemic issues like diabetes. Reaching 500,000 via schools, markets, and dental camps in major cities, it builds on past successes like educating 11.8M pupils and serving 700k Nigerians, emphasizing preventive care through public-private partnerships.

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29 Women Leaders Set to Transform Nigeria's Health

29 mid-career women in Nigeria's health sector graduated from the 2025 Nigeria Leadership Journey, a year-long program by WomenLift Health and WILAN. It addresses the leadership gender gap amid high maternal deaths, featuring training, mentorship, and networking. Officials highlighted inclusive leadership's role in better outcomes, with plans to expand to midwifery in 2026.

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Nigeria's Cancer Plan: Beyond Hospitals to Society

Nigeria's NCCP 2026-2030 shifts cancer care from hospital-only to a whole-of-society approach, addressing late diagnoses via seven pillars: prevention, diagnosis, survivorship, digital tools, advocacy, research, and partnerships. It tackles social determinants, launches free screenings for key cancers, aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, and leverages AI for better outcomes amid rising global cases.

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Abuja's 2026 Plan for Healthier, Greener Capital

Abuja's Health Services and Environment Secretariat, led by Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, advances the Renewed Hope Agenda with 2026 strategies for emergency care via oxygen plants and ambulances, women's health through VVF and Colposcopy Centres, expanded insurance and screenings, workforce enhancements, PHC upgrades including telemedicine, and environmental links like clean energy distribution and tree planting. Future projects include IMPACT and IDB-funded facilities for resilient growth.

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Senate Slams Hospitals Over Snakebite Deaths

Following singer Ifunanya Nwangene's death from snakebite complications at FMC Jabi, Abuja, the Senate urged mandatory anti-venom stocking for hospital licensing. Amid negligence claims denied by the hospital but contradicted by eyewitnesses, the motion highlights Nigeria's emergency preparedness failures and calls for proactive health reforms.

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Dean’s Alarm: 0.5% Oral Health Budget Too Low

Prof. Linda Okoye, Dean of Dentistry at University of Nigeria Enugu, delivers inaugural lecture urging federal government to elevate oral health in national development. Highlights paltry 0.5% health budget allocation, pushes for NHIS inclusion, fluoridation pilots, school programs, sugar labeling, workforce expansion, and personal habits like fluoride brushing and sugar limits.

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Overlooked Therapy Revolutionizing Sickle Cell Care in Africa

Sickle cell disease affects 7.7 million worldwide, with over 75% of cases in Africa and 300,000 annual births in sub-Saharan Africa. Red blood cell exchange, an underutilized therapy, lowers sickle hemoglobin, prevents strokes, manages pain crises, and offers a repeatable alternative to bone marrow transplants without needing donors. Recent successful procedures highlight its potential to reduce hospitalizations and improve quality of life.

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Nigeria's TB Deaths Plunge 63% in Decade: Key Wins

Nigeria achieved a 63% drop in TB mortality from 2015-2024 and 94% treatment success, per FCTA's Dr. Dan Gadzama at World TB Day 2026 outreach. Highlights include 467,000 cases detected in 2025 nationally and FCT records of 40,171 screened. Despite high global burden (10.7M cases, 1.23M deaths in 2024), advances in detection and WHO-backed tools drive progress.

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Nigeria's GIFSHIP: Affordable Health Insurance Game-Changer?

Ultimate Health HMO launches GIFSHIP, a NHIA-regulated health insurance at ₦38,718/year, covering primary, secondary, and tertiary care for individuals, families, and groups. CEO Otunba Lekan Ewenla highlights its role in mandatory coverage under NHIA Act 2022, addressing Nigeria's poor health indices via risk management, capitation, and equitable access toward universal health coverage.