Health

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.