Category: Health and Environment

CALMHAF Foundation decries severe trauma of 50 widows displaced by Mushere-Bokkos attacks in Plateau

The Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF) has decried dire psychological and humanitarian condition of 50 widows at the COCIN Central IDP Camp in Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau State.

This followed brutal attacks on Mushere-Bokkos communities within Plateau State in recent time, which also affected women from Mwor, Kadinbisha, Hok, and other surrounding communities as well.

The CALMHAF Plateau State Programmes Manager, Mr Amos Zingven Selkap, who led the Foundation’s team, conducted a mental wellness outreach at the IDP Camp on May 8, 2026.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in the Foundation’s Headquarters in Enugu by Mr Munachi Igbelina, the Administrative Team Lead of CALMHAF.

Selkap noted that during the outreach there was documented widespread trauma, profound grief, and desperate living conditions among the survivors especially widows.

He said that the widows recounted harrowing experiences of violence by armed herdsmen; many lost husbands, children, and other family members.

The programme manager emphasised that in one particularly tragic incident on May 26, 2025, Mrs. Paulina Jerry, survived an attack, had six members of her family killed by suspected herdsmen.

He noted that surviving widows exhibited clear signs of acute psychological distress, including uncontrollable weeping, emotional breakdown, and high risk of depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Selkap said that all 50 women, who were documented, had been completely displaced, losing their homes, farmlands, and entire means of livelihood.

The programme manager made some urgent recommendations drawing from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.

“There should be a weekly safe spaces and support group sessions led by trained counselors; Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for camp-based volunteers and comprehensive mental health screening and referral of severe cases to specialists in Jos.

“Trauma-informed livelihood skills training (tailoring, soap-making, poultry, and small-scale trading); provision of starter kits, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), and unconditional cash or food assistance.

“Stronger collaboration with NEMA, SMEDAN, and other government agencies for sustainable recovery and advocacy for improved security to enable safe return to ancestral homes,” he said.

Selkap called on concerned Individuals and organisations, the Plateau State Government, Federal Government, humanitarian partners, faith-based organisations, and the general public to act swiftly.

The programme manager said that without urgent psychosocial support and economic intervention, these widows risk long-term mental health deterioration and prolonged dependency.

“These women have lost everything. They urgently need more than sympathy — they need structured support to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives,” Selkap added.

Contributing,, the Co-Founder of CALMHAF, Mrs Uzoamaka Nwachukwu, commended the Plateau State Chapter of the foundation and promised more interventions to assist survivors especially the widows pass through the difficult time.

One of the survivor, who simply gave her name as Rhoda, said: “Our community has been taken from us, and we cannot return unless the government intervenes decisively.”

The Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF) is a dedicated Nigerian organisation working to promote mental health awareness and provide psychosocial support to survivors of violence, conflict, and disaster across Nigeria.

CALMHAF foundation can be reached through Email: info@copeandlive.foundation;
Phone or WhatsApp: +2348148318965 and
Website: www.copeandlive.foundation

34 die in meningitis outbreak in Sokoto – Commissioner

Children Asthmatic Attacks: Foundation urges checkmate of environmental pollution

The Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF), an NGO, has urged Nigerians, especially government at all levels, to checkmate factors promoting environmental pollution leading to children asthmatic attacks.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, made the call on Monday in Enugu while speaking to newsmen on Asthma and Children suffering the disease.

Uba spoke ahead of the World Asthma Day held annually, every first Tuesday within the month of May, with the  theme “Access to Anti-inflammatory Inhalers for Everyone With Asthma, Still An Urgent Need.”

He noted that the asthma burden in the country had been compounded for children suffering the diseases, whose immune are weak and with fragile respiratory system, due to environmental pollution.

According to him, across many Nigerian cities, air quality is deteriorating due to vehicle emissions, generator fumes, industrial pollutants, open waste burning, and dust.

The chairman said that indoor air pollution from generators and kerosene use further worsens exposure for asthma patients especially infants and children, especially in densely populated settlements.

Uba noted that for people living with asthma, polluted air is not just an inconvenience, “it is a trigger”.

He said, “It increases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, undermines treatment effectiveness, and places an additional burden on already vulnerable patients.

“Children are particularly at risk. Exposure to polluted air in homes, schools, and communities worsens respiratory health, increases school absenteeism, and heightens the likelihood of severe asthma episodes.

“Managing asthma effectively in such an environment becomes significantly more difficult, especially when preventive medications are already out of reach for many families.

“Nowhere is this more tragic than among children, who bear a disproportionate burden of asthma in Nigeria.”

Uba said that frequent asthma attacks on children disrupt schooling, limit physical activity, and in severe cases, cut lives short.

“A child who cannot breathe cannot learn. A child who is constantly ill cannot thrive. And a generation that cannot thrive cannot build a prosperous nation,” he said.

The chairman said that there was a direct link between the health of children and the prosperity of any nation.

He said that healthy children attend school consistently, learn effectively, and develop the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society as well as grow into a productive workforce that drives economic growth.

Malaria Prevention: Enugu Govt., partner enrol 1,000 pregnant on health insurance scheme

The Enugu State Government, in collaboration with Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), has enrolled 1,000 pregnant women into the state health insurance scheme in order to stamp out malaria.

The benefitting pregnant women, which enrollment gesture is part of the state celebration of World Malaria Day, would get free malaria testing and treatment; free antenatal services, free delivery and free post-natal care for mother and child.

Speaking on Thursday in Enugu after being awarded Malaria Elimination Ambassador for Enugu State, the Wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, pledged to strengthen her commitment to zero malaria prevalence in the state.

Represented by the Wife of the Speake of Enugu State, Mrs Chinyere Ugwu, the governor’s wife noted that she would put more vigor to malaria elimination in all ramifications.

According to her, we will empower women as frontline warriors to ensure concentrate actions are take even at the household level and with concerted efforts of all the anticipated victory of malaria elimination is within reach.

Corroborating, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, commended malaria partners, state coordinator and council area focal persons as well as the media for reduction of malaria prevalence from 25.5 per cent to 9.9 per cent.

Ugwu noted that the state is currently running a free malaria testing and treatment in 527 health facilities (both government-owned and private facilities) in the state.

According to him, it is highly possible there will  be reduction to malaria prevalence below five per cent in 2027 and a total elimination of malaria in its entirety in few years to come in the state.

“We are also getting support from some council areas that procured and distributed insecticide treated nets and some that have enrolled thousands of their residents to the state health insurance scheme free of charge.

“The state is still expecting insecticide treated nets from the National Malaria Elimination Programme and involvement of more partners as well as residents keying into all malaria prevention, testing and treatment programmes,” he said.

The commissioner noted that Gov. Peter Mbah led administration had invested heavily in building 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, secondary hospitals, two tertiary hospitals and a 300-bedded international hospital in Enugu metropolis.

He appreciated health partners –  ECEWS, Johns Hopkins University Affiliate (jhpiego), Real Pharmaceutical Ltd, WHO, UNICEF and council, ward and community malaria focal persons among others for their unwavering support in the fight against malaria.

Speaking, Project Director of ECEWS, Chief Ayodele Alegbeleye, said that earlier in the week ECEWS, other partners and health ministry took malaria elimination message directly to residents through a malaria awareness walk and flier distribution.

Alegbeleye said that the walk engaged women, children, youths, law enforcement officers and senior citizens; thus, promoting prevention measures, early testing, and effective treatment, and information on free malaria testing and treatment in health facilities.

“The next day, Wednesday, we carried out free medical outreach in five selected health facilities in Enugu State. Today, we are supporting the state in enrolling 1,000 pregnant women into the state health insurance scheme.

“Through strengthened collaboration, community driven action, and sustained advocacy, ECEWS remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s path to a malaria free future,”‘he added.

The health ministry awarded Best Malaria Elimination Supportive LG Chairman to the Chairman of Enugu East council area, Rev. Beloved-Dan Anike and the Best Malaria Elimination Supportive LG Focal Person to Mr Kyrian Ezeh, working in Udenu LGA.

WMD: Enugu Govt. Tasks Partners On Targets Of 5% Prevalence Of Malaria

The Enugu State Government has tasked its partners on new target of below five per cent prevalence of malaria parasite on the ongoing state malaria elimination programme.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, gave the new target in Enugu during a press briefing to mark the 2026 World Malaria Day (WMD).

Ugwu noted that the remarkable reduction in malaria parasite prevalence to 9.9 per cent in 2025 in the state remained laudable, adding: “There is room for further action and reduction to below five per cent in years to come.”

He said that malaria, one of the deadliest parasitic diseases, remained a severe public health challenge in the state and  leading cause of illness and death, particularly among children under five and pregnant women.

According to him, faced with this reality, Enugu State has demonstrated commitment to the malaria fight through strategic interventions including free diagnostics, treatment, prevention tools, and expanded community-based programmes.

“This year’s theme, “Driven to End Malaria Now We Can. Now We Must”, captures the moment perfectly.

“For the first time in history, the tools, science and strategies to eliminate malaria are within our reach in the state.

“Now, We Can. We have the capacity, vaccines, diagnostics, and proven interventions to make elimination possible.

“Now We Must. We must act decisively to prevent resurgence, because malaria does not wait. When interventions slow, malaria resurges rapidly and lives are lost,” he said.

The commissioner said that Gov. Peter Mbah had made malaria elimination a health priority, adding that the state had expanded its free malaria testing and treatment across over 500 health facilities.

He noted that the ministry had ensured equitable access to rapid diagnostic testing and multiple first line therapies, while integrating malaria services into primary health care to meet broader health needs.

Ugwu said, “This year, our commemoration goes beyond awareness. We are enrolling 1,000 pregnant women into the State Health Insurance Scheme protect mothers and babies.

“We are also recognising outstanding health workers who have shown exceptional dedication to malaria elimination as well as engaging communities through sensitisation and medical outreach.”

The commissioner appreciated health partners –  ECEWS, Shpiego, WHO, UNICEF and media organizations for their unwavering support in the fight against malaria.

Earlier, the Programme Coordinator, State Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Ifeoma Otiji, called on stakeholders and partners to renew their commitment to malaria elimination in the state.

Otiji called on all to take advantage of the ongoing free malaria testing and treatment in the state, adding that testing is necessary as not all fever is malaria.

She said that individuals have a role to play, by sleeping under insecticide-treated nets and using indoor residual spraying.

The programme coordinator noted that residents should eliminate stagnant water within our environment, seek early testing and completing treatment, adding that every effort counts and brings us closer to a malaria-free state.

The state Health Ministry, its stakeholders and partners had earlier conducted a roadshow to commemorate the Day and distributed fliers to members of the public with the message of free malaria testing and treatment in health facilities.

WMD: Pharmaceutical firm partners Enugu Govt., donates 100 doses of malaria drug

A pharmaceutical company, Reals Pharmaceutical Ltd, has partnered Enugu State Government in its avowed move to eliminate malaria in the state’s 17 council areas.

The Sales and Marketing Director of the pharmaceutical firm, Mr Kunle Adesoye, disclosed the partnership on Tuesday in Enugu while presenting 100 doses of malaria drug – Malwood Tablets – to the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu.

Adesoye, who was represented by Pharm. Lucky Nwajei, Business Manager of the firm, commended the visionary leadership of Gov Peter Mbah, “whose administration continues to demonstrate decisive commitment in driving impactful health interventions”.

According to him, as stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, we see immense value in forging a strong public-private partnership with the Enugu State Government to scale up access, awareness, and innovation in malaria control.

“We are therefore eager to explore sustained collaboration with the Ministry in areas such as community outreach expansion, healthcare provider engagement, and improved access to effective anti-malarial therapies across the State.

“Kindly accept this donation as both a contribution and a commitment of our pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the government and good people of Enugu State in the drive to end malaria.

“Thank you for your leadership and for the opportunity to partner in this life-saving mission,” he said.

In commemorating 2026 World Malaria Day (WMD) in under the theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can, Now We Must”, Adesoye said that the firm aligns with the Ministry of Health to kick-out malaria in all its entirety.

The director said that to strengthen the firm’s support of the state’s urgent call to action to end malaria now, we had donate 100 doses of Malwood Tablets (Artemether/Lumefantrine 80/480mg).

“Malwood malaria drug —a high-quality, WHO-recommended Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT)—to be deployed during the State’s free malaria testing and treatment outreach.

“These medicines are specifically intended to provide immediate, life-saving treatment to individuals who test positive, ensuring that diagnosis is swiftly matched with effective care,” he said.

The director noted that the intervention goes beyond a donation; it reflected the firms unwavering commitment to closing treatment gaps, strengthening community-level care, and actively contributing to malaria elimination efforts in Enugu State.

Adesoye said that the company recognised that access to quality-assured ACTs remains a critical pillar in winning the fight against malaria—and we are fully invested in that mission.

Responding, Ugwu lauded Reals Pharmaceutical Ltd for the support to the state at a critical time when action is needed by all stakeholders to “totally eliminate malaria out of the state.’

The commissioner said, “Today, we have got another partner and the scope of our stakeholders keep increasing.

“This is in recognition and appreciation of the numerous health sector projects, programmes and interventions of our health-loving Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.”

DEDSRI calls for sustained enlightenment against human trafficking in Enugu

The Executive Director of Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative (DEDSRI), an NGO, Mrs Ogechukwu Enwelum, has called for sustained enlightenment against human trafficking in Enugu State.

Enwelum made the call on Monday in Enugu during a stakeholders’ review meeting on the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).

The project, which is being funded by the Kingdom of Netherlands, is organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Enwelum stressed that the project’s guiding message, “End Human Trafficking Now,” reflects a deliberate push to mobilise rural communities from the ground up and get to urban communities to kick against human trafficking.

“We are targeting young people through schools, but the effort cannot succeed without involving their caregivers and the wider community.

“Our approach is to engage existing structures within schools to ensure a comprehensive and lasting response against human trafficking in any form or ramification,” she said.

She disclosed that Enugu State was the only state in the South-East selected among five pilot states nationwide, noting that the engagement of 50 schools had already started yielding results.

On her part, the STEAP Project Manager, Mrs Rhoda-Dia Johnson, said the initiative was deliberately structured to equip students with practical knowledge and life skills that make them less susceptible to trafficking networks.

According to her, building confidence and critical thinking among young people is key to dismantling the false promises often used by traffickers.

Johnson further noted that collaboration remained central to the success of the project, with strong partnerships established between schools, community leaders, law enforcement agencies and civil society groups.

“This multi-layered approach ensures that cases of suspected trafficking are promptly identified and addressed, while also creating a protective environment for students both within and outside the school system.

“In fact, the continuous training for teachers and School-Based Management Committees has strengthened early warning mechanisms across participating schools,” the project manager said.

On sustainability, Johnson said the project goes beyond short-term interventions by building the capacity of School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) to continue the work after donor support stops.

Speaking, the South-East Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Jonathan Ukpai, noted that the initiative had entered its second phase, expanding from an initial pilot schools to an increased number of schools.

Ukpai emphasised the need for targeted communication tools must reflect and explain different dimensions of human trafficking, including child labour, organ harvesting and sexual exploitation.

“Human trafficking is multi-layered which will equally make our messaging to be clear and relatable to communities— showing real-life scenarios that people can easily identify and reject.

“I must add that prosecution is often hindered because people try to shield offenders.

“We are therefore intensifying advocacy to break this cycle of silence and encourage communities to stand for justice,” Ukpai added.

Enugu Govt. Scales Up Free Malaria Testing, Treatment In 527 Health Facilities

The Enugu State Government has scaled up free malaria testing and treatment in no fewer than 527 health facilities within the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, told newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday that the facilities are both public and private health facilities in the state.

Ugwu said that the facilities are located in every nooks and crannies of the state covering all the 17 LGAs .

He noted that facilities offering the free testing and treatment malaria included: Primary Healthcare Centres, General and Cottage hospitals as well as the some selected private and public tertiary hospitals.

According to him, the state government want to drastically reduce the prevalence and incidences of malaria among residents of the state.

“The ongoing statewide Enugu State Ministry of Health Malaria Elimination Project, which was envisioned and embarked upon by His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, is meant to touch lives and strengthen health of residents.

“The state government, with support from its health partners, has made available free malaria test consumables and drugs to many health facilities including public and private hospitals in the state.

“The residents should avail themselves of this health gesture by visiting health facilities close to them and play their role in helping in eliminating malaria and its health and financial burden out of the state,” he said.

The commissioner advised doctors and health workers to always do a malaria test before its treatment as “not all fever is malaria”.

“Carrying out a malaria test in the first place to be sure if what is being treated is malaria is very essential since there exist other forms of fever,” he said.

It would be recalled that the project had been running for over a year and being scaled up the state government in recently.
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The impactful project had reduced the prevalence of malaria in the state to 9.9 per cent according to a recent four-year gap malaria survey data.