Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Healthcare

  • Euracare says it has begun internal review after public dispute over child’s death

    Euracare says it has begun internal review after public dispute over child’s death

    In a statement covered by ThisDay, Euracare Multispecialist Hospital expressed sympathy to the Adichie family while disputing what it called inaccuracies circulating about the case and saying it has commenced a detailed investigation.

    The hospital said the patient was critically ill and had been referred for specific diagnostic procedures, adding it provided care in line with established clinical protocols and worked with external medical teams recommended by the family.

    The public dispute has placed Nigeria’s private healthcare accountability under a spotlight—especially around sedation protocols, monitoring, informed consent and post-incident transparency.

    Regulators and professional bodies are expected to follow developments closely as public scrutiny intensifies.

    Echotitbits take: When a high-profile case hits, the wider system learns—or repeats mistakes. Watch for independent review, regulatory clarity, and whether clinical findings are shared responsibly without breaching privacy.

    Source: ICIRNI – https://www.icirnigeria.org/lagos-orders-probe-as-euracare-reacts-to-chimamanda-adichies-allegations/ 10 January 2026

    ICIRNI 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: ICIRNI

  • Industrial court restrains resident doctors from strike as labour tensions rise

    Industrial court restrains resident doctors from strike as labour tensions rise

    According to The Guardian Nigeria, the National Industrial Court has restrained resident doctors from embarking on strike action, as negotiations and tensions around health-sector conditions continue.

    Labour analysts say such orders can buy time for talks, but lasting solutions typically require clear timelines on welfare commitments, funding and accountability for agreements.

    Patients and hospital administrators are often caught in the middle, with service disruptions risking preventable morbidity and eroding trust in public health systems.

    Stakeholders will watch for renewed negotiations and whether government and unions can reach enforceable terms to avoid recurring strike cycles.

    Echotitbits take: Court orders are not healthcare policy. Watch for a credible implementation roadmap on salaries, training, and hospital funding—otherwise the crisis returns.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/industrial-court-stops-resident-doctors-from-embarking-on-strike/ 10 January 2026

    The Punch 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Resident Doctors Signal Possible Strike Restart as Deadline Shifts to January 12

    Resident Doctors Signal Possible Strike Restart as Deadline Shifts to January 12

    In an update published by Channels TV, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors warned it could resume an indefinite strike, stating the action would begin “from 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026” if demands remain unmet.

    The warning points to breakdowns in implementation timelines, which often drive recurring strike cycles more than negotiation meetings.

    A renewed shutdown would hit emergency services and elective care in teaching hospitals already under strain.

    The Nation echoed the branding with “No Implementation, No Going Back,” while RipplesNG also reported the restart plan tied to “January 12, 2026.”

    Echotitbits take: Watch for agreements with dated milestones—not just talks. Implementation calendars are the difference between peace and shutdown.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/resident-doctors-to-resume-strike-january-12/ January 10, 2026

    The Punch 2026-01-10

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Merck Foundation and São Tomé First Lady align on healthcare capacity building and infertility stigma campaigns

    Merck Foundation and São Tomé First Lady align on healthcare capacity building and infertility stigma campaigns

    Merck Foundation and São Tomé First Lady align on healthcare capacity building and infertility stigma campaigns

    In a release distributed via APO Group and published on Africa Newsroom, Merck Foundation said its CEO and the First Lady of São Tomé & Príncipe discussed joint programmes to strengthen healthcare capacity and tackle infertility stigma.

    The conversation was framed around training, advocacy, and media engagement—using high-level convenings to keep reproductive health, maternal health, and systems strengthening on the policy radar.

    The real-world impact depends on implementation: scholarships delivered, training cohorts completed, and hospitals or institutions integrating the newly built capacity.

    Merck Foundation’s official announcement said the goal is to “strengthen healthcare” and expand training impact, while a republished report highlighted efforts to “break infertility stigma” through advocacy and community engagement.

    Echotitbits take:
    Stigma is often more damaging than the condition itself—because it delays care and drives misinformation. Watch for multilingual public campaigns, local clinician training, and integration into national reproductive health programming.

    Source: Zawya — January 2, 2026 — https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/africa-press-releases/merck-foundation-chief-executive-officer-ceo-and-sao-tome-principe-first-lady-discussed-their-joint-programs-xc03fgus

    Zawya 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: Zawya

  • Road crashes, cancer top death causes in tertiary hospitals

    Road crashes, cancer top death causes in tertiary hospitals

    A 2025 health statistics report from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare identifies road traffic accidents as the most frequently reported cause of death in federal tertiary hospitals, followed by cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. Punch highlights that the findings underscore the twin burden of preventable trauma and rising non-communicable diseases. The report also points to maternal and infection-related causes such as postpartum haemorrhage and sepsis among significant contributors. Beyond the mortality list, the ministry’s data reportedly flags the need for stronger health system monitoring, better resource allocation, and improved data quality, including resolving inconsistencies in hospital reporting. Source: Punch, December 7, 2025.

  • Nigerian Doctors in State-Owned Hospitals Begin Strike Amid Pandemic Struggle

    Nigerian Doctors in State-Owned Hospitals Begin Strike Amid Pandemic Struggle

    Nigerian doctors in state-owned hospitals have begun an indefinite strike to drive home their demand for pay rise, improved welfare and adequate facilities.

    The industrial action by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which began on Monday was confirmed by the group’s President, Aliyu Sokomba, who spoke to AFP.

    National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), President, Aliyu Sokomba speaks on “long-standing” issues leading to latest strike action. Photo- Channels TV.

    As the nation struggles to curb the spread of coronavirus, the action of NARD, representing about 40% of doctors in Nigeria, will be the latest in a string of recent down-tool protest by doctors.

    Sokomba, confirmimg that medics treating virus cases would join the strike action said: “There will be no exemptions.”

    He reiterated that the provision of life insurance, a pay rise, payment of salary arrears as well as provision of adequate facilities for doctors as long-standing issues that have necessitated the strike action.

    “We have arrears of 2014, 2015, 2016, salary shortfalls that were supposed to have been paid over six years ago, still pending.

    “These are the issues we have and they appear not to have been addressed up till this day,” he said.

    The NARD President, while lamenting the incessant strike actions by doctors occasioned by underfunding said the only condition for calling off the strike is when the Union’s demands were met, emphasising that “It is an indefinite strike”.

    With over 55,000 Covid-19 cases recorded and 1,057 deaths, there are fears that healthcare capacity could severely hamper efforts towards tackling the spread and treatment of coronavirus across the country if this latest strike action persists.

    Three months ago, when NARD staged a week-long strike over welfare and inadequate protective kits, doctors treating virus cases however remained on the job.

     

  • FG meets resident doctors over planned strike, promises to address issues

    FG meets resident doctors over planned strike, promises to address issues

    The Federal Government has assured the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) that it will address issues raises by the medical practitioners.

    over the planned industrial action of the

    This assurance was made during a conciliation meeting which held on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The meeting ended with high expectations that the planned strike would be shelved.

    At the discussion, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who convened the meeting gave an assurance that the government would address the issues raised by the doctors.

    This comes two days after the resident doctors issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the union or risk a nationwide strike.

    The demands include the doctors’ welfare, the residency training programme, and the poor state of infrastructure in government hospitals.

    Government officials also at the meeting include the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo.

  • Aig-Imoukhuede, PSHAN unveil new initiative to improve PHCs

    Aig-Imoukhuede, PSHAN unveil new initiative to improve PHCs

    Idowu Sowunmi

    Founder and Chairman of Africa Initiative for Governance, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, in collaboration with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) have unveiled a new initiative geared towards significantly improving Nigeria’s healthcare system at the grassroots level.

    The innovative strategy, which was in furtherance of a vision from an earlier stakeholders’ roundtable, entailed delivering one Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas at global standards.

    Under this private sector-driven initiative, universal health access would be provided for low-income citizens residing in rural and urban areas through the Adopt-a-Health Facility Programme (ADHFP).

    ADHFP, according to PSHAN Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sonny Nwarisi, would be sponsored by a group of Angel Investors and other institutions.

    He said these “Angels” would each take responsibility for one or more PHCs – they would build and operate the PHCs for the period of adoption under strict rules and guidelines.

    ADHFP is a multi-impact initiative with several benefits including: Saving lives, Improvement in health outcomes, Job creation, and Gender empowerment.

    Aig-Imoukhuede and PSHAN recently initiated ADHFP design phase which would be handled by Vesta Healthcare Partners, a global healthcare consultancy firm.

    This consultancy engagement was expected to deliver key programme components such as: legal and regulatory framework, public private partnership framework, PHC facility and management standards, financing arrangements, governance arrangements, supply chain management, and technology and systems.

    The design phase would involve active participation of notable development-focused organisations like: Global Citizen, ABCHealth, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), MTN Nigeria Plc, Dangote Group, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Stanbic-IBTC Bank, PwC, Cisco, Ford Foundation, Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Flying Doctors Nigeria.

    Others are: Africa Practice, Cedar Advisory Partners, GBCHealth, Health Federation of Nigeria, Health Law, Eti-Osa Local Government, JNC International Ltd, Johnson & Johnson, Justice in Healthcare, Lagos State Government, MSD for Mothers, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), ONE Campaign, PharmAccess Foundation, Women-At-Risk International Foundation as well as Lagos State Government and the Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals among others.