Major Health Stories Across Nigeria (March 2025 Edition)

March 2025 witnessed main well being developments and renewed requires pressing interventions as Nigeria grappled with each rising and chronic well being threats. From international considerations over HIV drug shortages triggered by international support disruptions, to native illness outbreaks, the month mirrored each the progress and chronic challenges shaping Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Right here’s a take a look at a number of the most necessary well being tales in March

Nigeria, seven different nations might face HIV drug shortages

The World Well being Organisation (WHO) has warned that the US’ choice to halt international support has “considerably disrupted” the provision of HIV therapies in eight nations, together with Nigeria.Different nations are Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali and Ukraine.

Nigeria’s combat in opposition to HIV/AIDS has been considerably aided by worldwide donors, notably PEPFAR, which has supplied billions of {dollars} in funding over the previous twenty years.

PEPFAR, which gives HIV remedy to over 20.6 million individuals worldwide, confronted a brief funding suspension as a result of President Trump’s govt order on international support.

The order halted many abroad help programmes, placing tens of millions in danger.

To mitigate the affect of this, the Nigerian authorities introduced plans to regionally produce HIV-related medical instruments, together with take a look at kits and antiretroviral medication.

The federal government has additionally allotted extra funds to assist HIV remedy within the nation.

Europe data highest variety of measles instances in 25 years – UN

Measles instances in Europe have doubled in only a 12 months, with the very best quantity reported since 1997, based on UN businesses.

The World Well being Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Kids’s Fund (UNICEF) stated measles is again, and it’s a wake-up name for all.

A complete of 127,350 instances had been reported within the area in 2024, double the variety of instances reported for 2023 and the very best quantity since 1997, based on evaluation by the UN businesses.

Among the many most contagious viruses affecting individuals, measles can harm the immune system by “erasing” its reminiscence of how you can combat infections, leaving survivors weak to different illnesses.

Meningitis outbreak amidst intense warmth

The Nigerian Meteorological Company (NiMet) warned a couple of potential Meningococcal meningitis outbreak in Northern Nigeria, citing worsening climate situations as a serious threat issue.NiMet said that mud particles in suspension, coupled with excessive warmth and humidity, had been anticipated to extend.

Though residents complained about intense warmth throughout Nigeria, NiMet warned that the scenario was extra dire within the northern a part of the nation, which is on common hotter than the southern half.

The company defined that the climate situations “have elevated the prospects of the outbreak of Meningococcal meningitis over the northern a part of the nation.”

In accordance with NiMet, the states most weak to an outbreak embrace Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, and Borno.

It warned that probably the most weak teams embrace infants, younger kids, the aged, these with weak immune programs and folks with head accidents.

Extra deaths recorded from Lassa Fever

The Nigeria Centre for Illness Management and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that 118 lives had been misplaced to Lassa fever through the first quarter of 2025.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic sickness transmitted to people via contact with meals or home goods contaminated by contaminated rodents or individuals.

Signs of Lassa fever embrace fever, headache, sore throat, basic physique weak spot, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, and chest ache.

NCDC famous that 3,465 suspected instances had been recorded between January and March, spanning 91 native authorities areas (LGAs) and 33 states.

The well being company disclosed that 20 healthcare staff had been amongst these contaminated.

Nigeria’s First Girl donates N1 billion to assist combat in opposition to tuberculosis

At an occasion to commemorate the 2025 World Tuberculosis (TB) day, Nigeria’s First Girl, Oluremi Tinubu, donated N1 billion via the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to assist efforts to finish TB within the nation.

That is the second consecutive 12 months she has made such a dedication. In 2024, she pledged similar quantity throughout her investiture because the International and Nationwide Cease TB Champion.

TB, an airborne illness brought on by a bacterium (mycobacterium tuberculosis), principally impacts the lungs. It’s the second deadliest infectious killer illness (after COVID-19) and among the many prime 10 causes of dying worldwide.

TB stays a number one reason behind dying in Nigeria, with the nation rating sixth globally and first in Africa.

Nigeria data extra Diphtheria instances

In March, the NCDC recorded new instances of diphtheria.

Since epidemiological week 19 of 2022, Nigeria has recorded 42,805 suspected diphtheria instances throughout 351 LGAs in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Of those, 25,977 instances (60.7 per cent) have been confirmed, comprising 396 laboratory-confirmed instances, 238 epidemiologically linked instances, and 25,353 clinically suitable instances.

The report revealed that states with the very best variety of suspected instances embrace Kano (24,385), Yobe (5,330), Katsina (4,253), Bauchi (3,066), Borno (3,059), Kaduna (777), and Jigawa (364), which accounted for 96.3 per cent of the overall suspected instances.

READ ALSO: HEALTH WATCH: 10 methods to maintain your kidney wholesome Dr Daniel Otokpa

The confirmed instances have been reported in 187 LGAs throughout 26 states, with Kano (18,254), Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,383), Katsina (1,517), Borno (1,161), Jigawa (53), Plateau (119), and Kaduna (44) accounting for 99.1 per cent of those instances.

NCDC said that almost all confirmed instances, 16,579 (63.8 per cent), occurred amongst kids aged one to 14 years.

Seven million individuals die from air air pollution yearly – WHO

The World Well being Organisation (WHO) has warned that air air pollution stays some of the extreme international well being threats, contributing to round 7 million untimely deaths yearly.

The well being physique famous that 99 per cent of the world’s inhabitants breathes air that exceeds its guideline limits.

It stated low and middle-income nations are experiencing the very best ranges of publicity.

The polluted air accommodates dangerous substances comparable to particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide all of which poses a threat to human well being.