Author: Healthnika

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 has been awarded to US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their work on microRNA. Their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on Earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues. MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including us. The winners share a prize fund worth 11m Swedish kronor (£810,000). Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA. However, despite starting with the identical genetic information,…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the cholera outbreak in Nigeria has seen a sharp increase in 2024, with suspected cases rising by an alarming 220 per cent. The NCDC, on its official website, said this was according to the latest epidemiological report. The Nigerian Public Health Agency said that by the end of epidemiological week 39, the country had recorded 10,837 suspected cases and 359 deaths. It said the figure represented a 239 per cent increase in fatalities compared to 2023. It said the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for the year stood at 3.3 per cent, slightly…

Maternal health experts have stated that infection control during pregnancy reduces the risks of babies being born with birth defects whether structural or functional anomalies. According to the gynaecologists, congenital disorders also known as congenital anomalies could be prevented through vaccination, lifestyle modifications, and infection control during pregnancy. Congenital disorders such as hearing defects, and holes in the heart, they noted are structural anomalies present at birth that could cause physical disability, intellectual and developmental disability, and other health problems. The physicians said that congenital disorders linked to environmental factors such as maternal exposure to certain medications, chemicals, and alcohol,…

Rwanda has announced it will begin vaccine trials for the deadly Marburg virus, which has claimed at least 12 lives, most of them health workers. The country has received 700 doses of the vaccine from the US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute. The trials will prioritise high-risk groups, such as healthcare workers and individuals who have come into contact with infected patients, according to Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana. The Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, causes severe symptoms including fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and in some cases, death from extreme blood loss. Rwanda’s health ministry has reported 46 cases so far, marking…

Public health physicians are worried about the growing reliance on artificial intelligence for medical needs and drug prescriptions among Nigerians and warned that such practice could expose patients to serious health risks. The medical practitioner cautioned that while artificial intelligence could enhance efficiency and provide valuable insights into patient management, it lacks the understanding of individual patient needs that a human doctor possesses. The physicians emphasised that factors such as medical history, allergies, and psychological nuances could greatly influence treatment efficacy, insisting that AI might overlook these critical elements, while its potential for algorithmic bias raises concerns about equitable care.…

Pensioners in Ogun State have pleaded with Governor Dapo Abiodun to provide health relief for them. According to the pensioners, health relief should be provided under the National Health Insurance, so that retirees who subscribe to the scheme would enjoy a 50 per cent discount. Speaking on behalf of the retirees on Saturday, the Ogun State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Waidi Oloyede, said the health relief would ease the burden of many of them who were battling with one ailment or the other due to old age and other factors. Oloyede who spoke at the Pensioners’ Day celebration…

Over 3,600 patients in Kaduna State, who are at risk of losing their eyesight, are set to benefit from the Free Eye Surgery and Consultation Exercise, facilitated by the Kaduna State Government. The initiative, which was done in conjunction with the Qatar Charity Group, commenced across the 23 Local Government Areas in Kaduna State.. Bello-Jamo Yusuf, the executive secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, disclosed this during the inauguration of the exercise in Zaria on Tuesday. According to him, over 3,600 patients suffering from cataracts and other eye-related defects would undergo surgery. Others would be provided with drugs.…

The United States Government on Tuesday donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Jynneos vaccine for the prevention of smallpox and mpox in adults 18 years and older who are at risk of mpox infection, according to Persecondnews. Speaking during the official handover of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, thanked the U.S. government for the donation, assuring that the Federal Government is committed to improving the well-being of Nigerians. Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary…

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the release of 20 medical students and others abducted in Benue State. A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi on Saturday, said the victims, who were held in the Ntunkon forest, ADO Local Government Area of Benue state, were rescued on Friday by the office of the National Security Adviser without payment of ransom. A confirmed source told Channels Television that three helicopters were used for the operation, with few suspects arrested and others neutralised The medical students and their accompanying doctors were kidnapped on Thursday, the 15th of August…

The Borno State Government has announced the imminent closure of two major cemeteries in Maiduguri, the state capital city, citing overcrowding and associated health risks. The affected cemeteries include the Gwange Muslim cemetery along Bama Road and the Christian cemetery located at Old GRA, both of which will be officially closed from September 1. Mohammed Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, made the announcement in a statement released on Thursday. He explained that the decision was prompted by the severe congestion at the sites and the potential health hazards they pose to the surrounding communities. The…