Category: Health and Environment

Flowerbed News/ National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced in Abuja on Tuesday that enforcement of the total ban on sachet and small PET bottle alcohol will begin January 2026.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said this at a press conference, reaffirming the agency’s unflinching commitment to protecting public health and emphasising that its responsibility to safeguard the nation’s wellbeing remained sacrosanct.

Adeyeye said the enforcement would ensure full compliance with the total ban on production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml by December 2025.

She explained that the move aligned with the recent Senate directive and was fully supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to protect Nigerians from harmful alcohol consumption.

According to Adeyeye, the measure underscores NAFDAC’s statutory duty to safeguard public health and shield vulnerable groups, especially children and young adults, from the harmful consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.

She warned that proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers made them affordable and concealable, contributing to addiction, misuse, and reckless behaviour among minors and commercial drivers.

Adeyeye added that the menace had been linked to increased domestic violence, road crashes, school dropouts, and several social vices, which had continued to destabilise families and communities nationwide.

“In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).

 “The agreement initially set Jan. 31, 2024, as the deadline but was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers reconfigure facilities and exhaust existing stock, Adeyeye explained.

She said the new Senate resolution aligned with that agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, adopted in 2010.

“This ban is not punitive but protective. It aims to secure the health and future of our children and youth, based on scientific evidence and global public health standards.”

She stressed that NAFDAC could not continue to compromise Nigerians’ wellbeing for short-term economic gains, emphasising that a nation’s true wealth lied in the health of its people.

Adeyeye clarified that only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small PET or glass bottles below 200ml were affected by the regulation to be enforced by January 2026.

She urged all stakeholders, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, to comply fully with the December 2025 phase-out deadline, warning that no further extension would be granted by the agency.

She said NAFDAC would collaborate with the Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and National Orientation Agency to intensify national sensitisation campaigns on the social and health risks linked to alcohol misuse.

Adeyeye reaffirmed that NAFDAC remained resolute in ensuring that only safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products were available to Nigerians in line with its mandate to protect public health.

NAN

By Rachael Abujah

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) reports significant progress in Rivers State’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, achieving more than 95 per cent HIV testing acceptance among pregnant women between 2020 and 2023.

Dr Stanley Idakwo, Project Director of the Rivers ASPIRE Project at IHVN, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, noting that the achievement reflected years of strategic community engagement and consistent peer mentorship efforts.

Idakwo said data from the District Health Information System (DHIS) indicated that HIV testing among pregnant women had remained between 95 and 100 per cent since 2020, following intensive counseling and mentorship.

“This achievement is largely driven by effective counselling, strong peer support, and the mentor mother model that encourages adherence and emotional support.

“About 98.6 per cent of clients also expressed satisfaction with PMTCT services,” he said.

However, Idakwo acknowledged challenges remained.

“Around 31.7 per cent of women cite distance to facilities as a barrier, 20.1 per cent mention transportation costs, and 16.5 per cent report long waiting times,” he noted.

He explained that those challenges were being mitigated through task-sharing among healthcare workers, improved case management, and integration of PMTCT with broader maternal and child health services across the state.

“Improved staff attitude and shorter waiting times have encouraged more women to seek antenatal care, ensuring better access to HIV testing and follow-up treatment for both mothers and their babies,” Idakwo added.

He emphasised that although maternal and infant ARV prophylaxis had reduced HIV transmission, uptake of follow-up services like facility-based deliveries and antiretroviral used during labour still needed improvement.

“To address this, we’re strengthening health workers’ capacity, improving drug supply chains, and ensuring mentor mothers and midwives jointly monitor pregnant women through delivery and the postnatal period.

“IHVN is also collaborating with the Rivers State Ministry of Health to expand PMTCT services closer to communities and improve access for women in hard-to-reach rural and riverine areas.

“With PEPFAR-CDC and Global Fund support, we’ve trained more than 400 Traditional Birth Attendants across 319 wards, linking them to 115 facilities under a hub-and-spoke service delivery model,” he said.

Idakwo said continuous training for counsellors, expansion of PMTCT coverage to more primary healthcare centres, and enhanced safety for healthcare workers were key strategies for sustaining the recorded progress.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure no child in Rivers State is born with HIV. Every pregnant woman deserves quality, stigma-free healthcare regardless of her location or social status,” he affirmed.

He added that the IHVN Rivers ASPIRE Project would continue strengthening community partnerships and supporting Nigeria’s goal of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission through sustained innovation and collaboration.

NAN

COLI Academy advocates proper stress management for healthier life

The COLI Academy, the academic arm of the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF), has advocated for proper stress management for healthier life of Nigerians.

The Executive Director of COLI Academy, Rev. Chukwudiebube Nwachukwu, said this at the end of the COLI Academy Basic Stress Management Course on Monday in Enugu.

The course, which had a full capacity attendance, included a medical doctor, a detective, an entrepreneur, a banker, a broadcaster, young mental health advocates and volunteers from the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF).

Nwachukwu said that the course, which is a turnout in mental health management among the attendees, underscored the urgent need for effective stress management in today’s fast-paced socioeconomic world.

According to him, the immediate benefits of the course is that attendees (participants) are leaving with a comprehensive toolkit, including the stress awareness wheel, tracking techniques, the Stress Bucket Technique, relaxation and cognitive restructuring methods.

“They also went through time management strategies, stress-busting techniques, and a self-care checklist.

“These tools empower individuals to identify triggers, manage stress in real-time, and build sustainable habits for daily life.

“There are also future benefits of the course, which included mastering these techniques taught; participants enhance their mental and physical health, improve relationships, and boost productivity.

“They are well trained to become advocates for mental health, fostering healthier families and communities within their reach and space,” he said.

He said that the course’s accredited certificate, issued by COLI Academy — an International Association of Therapists (IAOTH) UK accredited training provider — adds professional credibility, enhancing career prospects and personal growth.

Responding, one of the attendees, Mr Okechukwu Etuka, a staff of Guaranty Trust Bank, lauded COLI Academy and CALMHAF for organising an impactful course, which lessons would continue to shape ones’ life.

“The learning and insight gained from the course will enable me manage the continuous and demanding interaction with customers; thereby, reducing both personal stress and that of my bank’s customers,” Etuka said.

Another attendee, Ms Ophilia Alete, an On-Air Personality (OAP) at Correct FM Enugu, said that the course would help her manage her life-style and on-air programmes professionally while maintaining a balanced health.

“All I learnt have changed my perception and way I will relate with others and ensure that I reduce all triggers leading to stress and refrain from unnecessary disagreements  while presenting my programmes,” she said.

The attendees (participants) were presented Certificate of Attendance after the course.

Oyo inaugurates MAMII Task Force to save mothers, newborns

By Adewale Owoade

The Oyo State Government has inaugurated the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) Task Force to curb maternal and infant deaths across the state.

The state also received the Action Plan, Activation Plaque, and implementation strategy for the initiative during the inauguration at the Molete Primary Health Centre, Ibadan.

Gov. Seyi Makinde, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Chief Ajibola Lawal, described MAMII as a renewed call to protect mothers, safeguard newborns, and strengthen the healthcare system.

“MAMII, as conceived by the Federal Ministry of Health and supported by the Oyo State Government, represents a bold step toward reversing this unacceptable trend.

“Through this initiative, we are bringing together innovation, data, and collaboration under the unified vision of SWAP (One Plan, One Budget, One Conversation).

“In Oyo State, the burden of maternal death is saddening, however, we are glad to be among the states selected to implement this landmark initiative. Our commitment is firm to strengthen our health facilities, empower our healthcare providers, and ensure that every pregnant woman and newborn receives the care they deserve.

“Together, we can make maternal and newborn deaths a thing of the past in Oyo State. Together, we can build a system where every birth is celebrated, not mourned,” he says.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said members of the task force are carefully selected from key health agencies, including the Primary Healthcare Board, Hospital Management Board, Health Insurance Agency, and Emergency Services, to ensure effective coordination.

“So, they are to see that we implement the plan for Oyo State, and what is the goal? The goal is to reduce maternal mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate in Oyo State.

“We want a significant reduction — now it is about 370 — and we aim for a 50 percent reduction in the next two years by the grace of God,” she says.

National Coordinator of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP), Dr. Muntaga Sodiq-Umar, represented by Iyahen Omoruyi, and Oyo State MAMII Coordinator, Dr. Oluwatunmise Adeagbo, expressed optimism that the task team will work with both national and state structures to bridge gaps in maternal health service delivery.

Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, described the initiative as a movement to restore dignity to motherhood and protect the most vulnerable.

“Let me emphasise that this initiative is not just a programme, it is a movement to restore dignity to motherhood, to protect the most vulnerable, and to fulfil our moral and constitutional duty to safeguard life.

“Our approach is both technical and humane — guided by evidence, sustained by empathy, and strengthened by collaboration.

“Let us continue together to build a future where no woman dies while giving life, no child is lost to preventable causes, and no community is left behind in the march towards equity and wellbeing,” he says.

Stakeholders at the event pledge their commitment to supporting the initiative, while pregnant women present receive cash gifts.

The event also features drama, songs, and moving testimonials from women who successfully deliver under the MAMII-supported care system. (NAN)

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Mental health expert warns of dangers of poor nutrition in children development

The Co-Founder of the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation (CALMHAF), Mrs Uzoamaka Nwachukwu, has warned of the dangers of poor nutrition in children’s mental development and stability.

Nwachukwu, who is a trained Child Psychologist, gave the warning while speaking on World Food Day (on Oct. 16)  and the Growing Incidences of Malnutrition among Children in Nigeria on Wednesday in Enugu.

She noted that there were links between quality nutrition and children’s mental health, brain development and function; adding that the brain requires essential omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to develop and function properly.

According to her, diets high in sugar and processed foods are linked to increased risks of anxiety and depression in children as well as cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can affect mood stability.

Nwachukwu, a mental health advocate, said, “Nutrients like magnesium (found in leafy greens and nuts) and vitamin D (from sunlight or fortified foods) support serotonin production, a neuro-transmitter that stabilises mood.

“Studies show that children with diets high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains tend to have better academic performance and fewer behavioral issues compared to those consuming high-sugar, high-fat diets.

“For example, a 2019 study found that children with poor diets were more likely to exhibit hyperactivity and inattention, symptoms often associated with Attention -Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).”

She called on mothers and caregivers to replace costly foreign foods with cheaper and available Nigerian alternatives to ensure that their children get essential mental health sustaining nutrients.

“Nigeria’s markets offer household foods that deliver Omega-3s, iron, B vitamins, and more at a fraction of imported costs (often between ₦100 and N500 per family serving).

“Swap expensive salmon for dried or smoked mackerel (Titus) or sardines, and almond/walnuts for groundnuts or egusi seeds.

“Replace lean meats with affordable beans (“akidi” or brown beans), dried fish, and “ugu” (pumpkin) leaves.

“These cover daily needs; pair with vitamin C-rich fruits for better absorption. Try bean porridge with “ugu” or fish stews,” she said.

For Vitamin B for energy and mood stability; she advocated use of leafy greens like “ugu” or spinach (green), plus fermented ogi from corn or millet, boost serotonin precursors. Blend “ugu” into “ogi” for a nutrient-packed breakfast.

For Vitamin D for serotonin and mood support; Nwachukwu urged families to leverage Nigeria’s abundant sunlight (15-20 minutes daily) alongside small portions of dried fish or eggs; while outdoor playtime doubles as free therapy.”

The child mental expert noted that a balanced and nutritious diet provides the nutrients needed for optimal brain function, while poor nutrition can contribute to mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and attention issues.

She, however, noted that in a world where good nutrition is key to children’s mental well-being; many families in Nigeria face steep challenges on getting a balanced diet on their dining tables.

“Rising food prices, food insecurity, and limited access to diverse foods make it hard to follow expert advice on preventing anxiety, depression, and ADHD through nutritious diet.

“Yet, with Nigeria’s rich array of local staples like “ugu” leaves, beans, and fermented “ogi”, low-income households can still nourish their children’s brains affordably,” she added.

Flowerbud News/ Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has sued for sustainability and local ownership in Nigeria’s HIV response, with a view to consolidating progress achieved in epidemic control.

Dr Patrick Dakum, Chief Executive Officer, IHVN, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Dakum said that people living with HIV were expected to adhere strictly to their medications to maintain their health and prevent new infections.

He noted that HIV services including testing, treatment, laboratory diagnosis, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission, remain free in over 380 IHVN-supported facilities across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Katsina, and Rivers States.

He added that more than 238,000 individuals currently receive free anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in IHVN-supported health facilities, made possible through funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and support from the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He said sustaining these services therefore, required strong government ownership, local partnerships, and continued collaboration with civil society and the media.

”IHVN continues to advocate for sustainable health initiatives. Together with government, funders, and stakeholders, we aim to test 95 per cent of people living with HIV, treat 95 per cent of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression in 95 per cent of those on treatment,” he said.

Dakum highlighted the institute’s efforts to expand HIV services to the grassroots through faith-based partnerships, community outreach, and initiatives such as Group Mothers’ Love Gatherings and Peer Mentor Mother Programs, which empower women living with HIV to support one another.

He noted that the Nigerian government was making progress in assuming greater responsibility for the HIV response through health insurance inclusion, local production of HIV test kits, and the planned introduction of the HIV preventive injectable Lenacapavir.

He urged stakeholders to sustain collaboration to ensure the long-term success of the national HIV response and build a healthier future for Nigerians.

NAN reports that according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Nigeria currently has an estimated 1.8 million people living with HIV, with about 1.6 million on treatment.

New HIV infections have declined by over 20 per cent in the past decade, while AIDS-related deaths have also dropped significantly.

However, experts warn that sustaining these gains requires stronger domestic funding, efficient service delivery, and improved access to testing and treatment for vulnerable populations, especially women, children, and adolescents.

In perspective, UNAIDS and NACA have both commended Nigeria’s progress but cautioned that the country must sustain momentum to meet the 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat.

They said that achieving this goal will depend on increased domestic financing, equitable service delivery, and strengthening community-led responses across all states.

NAN

Maternal Mortality Rate Reducing, But More Needs to Be Done – Oyo Health Commissioner

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‎By Adewale Owoade

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‎The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has acknowledged that while maternal mortality in the state has decreased, more efforts are needed to achieve significant progress.

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‎Speaking at the flag-off of a five-day workshop on the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Innovation Initiative (MAMII) project in Ibadan, Ajetunmobi attributed the progress made so far to Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

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‎According to the commissioner, maternal mortality reduced from 512 per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 370 per 100,000 live births in 2023, based on the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023.

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‎”You remember that His Excellency, Engineer Oluwaseyi Makinde under the roadmap for sustainable development, Omitutun 2.0 agenda, health is one of it, and under it’s pillars, maternal mortality reduction, neonatal mortality reduction, infant mortality reduction are one of the pillars, one of the achievements that we need to see.

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‎”Even though we can say that the maternal mortality is going down, but it has not gone down significantly, from 2018 where we have 512 per 100,000 live births, according to the NDHS of 2023, we have 370 per 100,000 live births.

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‎”You could see that significantly we have not really achieved, so we want to know, come together and see how we can bring down this maternal mortality rate to the barest minimum.

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‎”So that a woman at home knows where to go to, even at hospital setting, he has the equipment to work, then all our religious leaders, creating awareness that women need to go to the hospital, they need to take vaccination, they need to register for antenatal care, they need to know what is going on, if they have blood shortage, what are the things that they need to know?

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‎”That’s the whole essence of bringing all of us together, so that we know that maternal and neonatal mortality reduction it is a target and it is something that is achievable.”

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‎The National Coordinator of Sector Wide Approach, SWAp, Dr Muntaga Sodiq-Umar who spoke through Dr Iyahen Omoruyi, noted that the initiative is part of the Coordinating Minister of Health’s (Prof. Muhammad Pate), priority projects. and that as at last week they have covered 30 states

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‎”Essentially, unlike in the past where there were prescriptive, directives to states and local governments to do things, the minister has found out that you don’t give people directives, you are not in the state, so you don’t know what is the context, particular context of that community or state.

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‎”So his own directive was, ‘Everybody who is going to be part of those exercises, go to those communities, find out what truly the challenges are, and work with the stakeholders, the partners, the government officials and everybody, to co-create solutions to those problems,” Dr Omoruyi explained.

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Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, noted that the state government has made significant strides in revitalising primary health centres, employing over 4,000 staff, and implementing initiatives in emergency transportation and health insurance.

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‎“This meeting offers us an opportunity to critically review our progress, harmonize efforts across all stakeholders, and produce an implementation design and plan that reflects our collective determination to make maternal death a reality in Oyo State.

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‎“Our focus will be community-driven solutions – improving health literacy, male involvement, and emergency transport; on facility-based readiness – ensuring 24-hour service delivery, skilled birth attendance, and essential commodities; and on governance promoting data use, accountability, and alignment with the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).”

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‎Dr Olwatunmise Adeagbo, the State Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Desk Officer highlighted the essential of the programme.

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‎”So what this program is essentially about is for us to come together as a state, you can see all stakeholders across board have been mobilised and invited, for us to sit down and have a plan on how we want to crash this burden.

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‎”We would be going to the field essentially where this maternal death happens,” he said.

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‎In their separate remarks, UNICEF Consultant, Dr. Tari Akpandara; Executive Secretary of Oyo State Primary HealthCare Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji; Chairman of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi.; and Executive Secretary of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency, OYSHIA, Dr Olusola Akande, pledged their support to the success of the programme.

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‎”We hope that at the end of this workshop we would be able to collaboratively work together to ensure that we begin to write the story of newborn and maternal health in the state, ensuring that we fulfill all the expectations regarding universal health coverage,” Dr Akpandara stated.

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‎”So you can be rest assured that we would be able to attach personal sentiment into this stride to make sure that we reverse maternal infant mortality in our society, and primary health care board is the point of execution, so I am cardinally involved,” Dr Olatunji said.

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‎”And I believe that for Nigeria and for Oyo State as a sub-national, positioning in this area will go a long way in ensuring that we take care of the future of the unborn and also those of our children,” Dr Fagbemi said.

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‎”OYSHIA is committed to the issue a lot, as a matter of fact, today we are starting another initiative to bring pregnant women into Oyo State health insurance. We call it, ‘Hospital Storm’, ‘Irorun Iya’,” Dr Akande stated.

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