Terkura Vande in Makurdi

The Benue State Government has flagged off the May–June 2026 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week, just as it has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state.

It also stated that the initiative aligns with the healthcare transformation agenda and the vision of the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, whose administration has consistently prioritized the strengthening of primary healthcare systems, improved access to quality healthcare services, and the reduction of preventable maternal and child deaths across the state.

Performing the flag-off ceremony at the Family Support Programme, FSP, clinic, Makurdi, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, stated that the programme is a critical intervention aimed at improving access to life-saving healthcare services for women and children across the state.

Represented by Dr Cephas Hough, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ogwuche, noted that the activity which runs for a whole week, is designed to deliver integrated health services to mothers, newborns, and children, particularly those in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

He emphasized that maternal and child health remains a key indicator of societal development and called for sustained collective action to address preventable deaths resulting from pregnancy-related complications and childhood illnesses.

According to him, “Every mother deserves quality healthcare before, during, and after childbirth, while every child deserves the opportunity to survive, grow, and reach their full potential.

“This MNCH week provides an opportunity to intensify interventions that will safeguard the lives of mothers and children throughout Benue state.”

He informed that during the exercise, pregnant women would receive focused antenatal care services, micronutrient supplementation, health education, and counseling, while children would benefit from routine immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutrition screening, and other essential child survival interventions.

Other services to be provided during the week include HIV testing and counseling, distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs), birth registration services, newborn care interventions, family planning counseling, malaria prevention education, and promotion of proper hygiene practices.

The Commissioner urged mothers, fathers, caregivers, and community leaders to actively participate in the programme and encourage community members to take advantage of the free health services being offered throughout the exercise.

Dr Ogwuche further acknowledged development partners and donor agencies, for their continued support to the health sector and called for stronger collaboration to expand healthcare coverage and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

While Dr Ogwuche, called on stakeholders to work collectively towards reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, he reiterated the commitment of the ministry to sustaining interventions that improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.

The programme brought together officials of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, development partners, healthcare professionals, traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, mothers, caregivers, and other stakeholders in the health sector.

By Saint Mugaga

The House of Representatives has urged the executive to provide the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with adequate releases as contained in the budget to enable it contain ebola and other diseases.

The House made the appeal after adopting a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah (NDC, Imo).

In adopting the motion, the House also urged the Port Health Authorities to intensify cross-border surveillance and checks to prevent infiltration of infected persons.

While presenting the motion, Ogah disclosed that on 15th May 2026, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported an outbreak of Ebola
disease in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (just two steps
from Nigeria).

He said this rare and distinct strain of Ebola virus, the Bundibugyo Strain, is causing a major public health emergency in Central Africa and may spread to other parts of Africa soon because of the porous nature of our borders and lack of strict cross-border checks.

He expressed concerns that this version of the virus currently does not have any licensed vaccines or targeted medical therapies to mitigate it.

“The House should equally note that, on 25th May 2026, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) placed Nigeria at high risk of Ebola importation.

“In the public health advisory issued by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, ironically stated that the NCDC is intensifying national coordination activities to
strengthen Ebola preparedness and rapid response capacity across the country, and
that the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is on alert mode for emergency preparedness.

“However, it is known that the NCDC received no operational funding in 2025, with no capital releases made to date against the approved 2026 allocation.

“Furthermore, the overhead releases are highly epileptic and grossly inadequate, which is in direct violation of basic international standards and constitutes an abuse of the
Appropriations Acts. How then can the preparedness of the Centre for emergencies
be guaranteed?

“It is worrisome to note that, due to lack of adequate funding, coupled with uncertainty regarding the quantum that will be released this year, the capacity to
fulfill critical health security obligations has significantly weakened.

“We should also bear in mind that this situation is compounded by a marked reduction in external donor support, which previously complemented government financing for outbreak preparedness and response activities.

It is essential to note that, presently, the Centre is experiencing critical challenges, including but not limited to the following: Vendors have not been paid for critical goods and services for over one year.

“If urgent, appropriate funding for the Centre is not immediately met, the strength
and capacity of the NCDC to adequately respond to the resurfacing Ebola threat
and other epidemic-prone diseases cannot be assured, which is extremely
disastrous to Nigeria as a nation”.

Health workers directed to monitor fever, bleeding, and other symptoms; community reporting expanded

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated intensified surveillance for travellers arriving from countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks, directing health workers nationwide to monitor individuals who develop symptoms within 21 days of travel.

In updated guidelines issued Monday to health facilities and disease surveillance officers, NCDC said any person with sudden fever plus at least three symptoms associated with Ebola, and a travel history to affected countries within the last 21 days, should be treated as a suspected case and investigated immediately.

The directive comes as Nigeria remains on heightened alert over ongoing outbreaks in parts of Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where health authorities are battling periodic resurgences of the deadly virus.

According to NCDC, suspected cases include individuals with sudden onset of fever and three or more of the following: headache, lethargy, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, difficulty breathing, diarrhoea, or hiccups. Unexplained bleeding in recent travellers is flagged as a major warning sign requiring urgent public health attention.

The agency also said persons who had contact with a confirmed or probable Ebola patient in the previous 21 days and later develop fever, with or without other symptoms, must be investigated immediately.

The 21-day window aligns with Ebola’s known incubation period.

Beyond travel, NCDC said individuals exposed to wildlife or bushmeat within 21 days and who develop persistent fever unresponsive to routine treatment should also be regarded as suspected cases. Exposure to sick or dead animals and body fluids remains a recognised animal-to-human transmission route.

The agency expanded community-based surveillance and urged residents to report unusual illnesses and sudden unexplained deaths promptly. Under the framework, any persistent fever that fails to respond to treatment, bleeding symptoms, bloody diarrhoea, blood in urine, or sudden unexplained death should be reported immediately to health authorities.

“Any sudden or unexplained death should be considered a priority event for investigation,” the guidelines stated.

NCDC defined a probable case as any suspected case with an epidemiological link to a confirmed case where lab confirmation was not possible. Laboratory confirmation, the agency said, requires positive virus antigen detection through RT-PCR or IgM antibodies against Ebola.

Ebola Virus Disease is transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated materials of infected persons. Symptoms start with fever, weakness, muscle pain, and headache before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. WHO puts case fatality rates between 25% and 90% depending on strain and care access.

Health authorities said early reporting, rapid investigation, and strict infection prevention remain critical to keeping Nigeria free of another Ebola outbreak.