Health

FG Dedicated to Enhancing Healthcare Delivery—Minister

Published

1 year ago

August 30, 2024

The federal government is stepping up efforts to improve hospital facilities and manpower.

Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made the announcement during the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy’s (NSP) 65th Anniversary and Gala Night in Abuja on Thursday.

Alausa, who was represented by the National Hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, remarked that the Federal Government is committed to funding the healthcare sector while also providing a favorable working environment for health personnel.

He praised the NSP for its critical role in delivering effective services through practice, training, research, collaborations, advocacy, and policy creation.

He advocated for public-private partnerships in the healthcare industry to supplement the federal government’s efforts to improve healthcare system for the country.

“Your efforts have significantly contributed to the overall improvement in healthcare, enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals.

“I commend your establishment of the Postgraduate Physiotherapy College (PPC), which has produced over 70 specialists in various physiotherapy fields.

“These skilled professionals have augmented the healthcare workforce, complementing government efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

“The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to enhance infrastructure and manpower in the healthcare sector,” he said.

Prof. Sylvester Igaww, the event’s keynote speaker, advised medical practitioners to continue upgrading their abilities, especially given the breakthroughs brought about by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the sector.

Igaww, who is also the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Coal City University in Enugu, lectured about “Physiotherapy Practice in Nigeria: The Past, Present, and the Way Forward.”

He emphasized the importance of addressing the ‘Japa Syndrome’ in the healthcare industry.

Dr. Oyinlola Odusanya, President of NSP, further stated that the organization had assisted the construction of Nigeria’s Postgraduate Physiotherapy College.

He explained that this organization is in charge of training clinically competent specialists to satisfy the needs of clients in a rapidly changing world.

Odusanya also addressed societal challenges, including the catastrophic effects of brain drain on the profession.

“More than 65 percent of physiotherapists trained in Nigeria work overseas. Over 2,000 physiotherapists have left the country in the previous three years, leaving fewer than 4,000 to care for a population of more than 200 million.

“This development has weakened us as a group in terms of training and has reduced the number of experienced physiotherapists available to serve our various establishments,” he told me.

Health

NDA President Urges Better Dental Care, Warns Against Harmful Habits

Published

3 hours ago

November 15, 2025

By Onilede Titi Faith

The President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Emedom Elias, has advised Nigerians to stop harmful oral habits, warning that the mouth is too delicate for practices such as using the teeth to open bottles.

Speaking at the association’s 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abuja, Elias said such habits can cause tooth fractures, gum injuries, and other serious complications.

He stressed that quality dental care depends on access to modern equipment, sustained public awareness, and regular patient visits, noting that inadequate funding remains a major challenge in the sector.

Elias also lamented the scarcity of dental facilities in rural areas, where most communities lack access to basic oral healthcare.

He urged the government to integrate dental services into primary healthcare centres to improve nationwide access.

Abuja Reports

Dumpsite Takes Over Gwarimpa Road

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Olalekan Oyekunle

A dumpsite along 3rd Avenue, Gwarimpa, has engulfed almost the entire road, making passage difficult for motorists and causing distress for nearby traders.

Traders told Abuja City Journal that the stench emanating from the site is driving customers away and threatening their livelihoods.

Some said individuals from nearby estates often use the area as a dumping ground at night, worsening the situation.

The traders are appealing to law enforcement agencies to monitor the area closely and prevent further dumping, stressing that the current conditions are not only affecting business but also posing health and safety risks to residents.

Health

NIS, UNODC Partner to Tackle Migrant Smuggling, Crimes

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2025

By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to strengthen the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking through improved cyberspace awareness and digital surveillance.

In a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI AS Akinlabi, on Tuesday, the collaboration was formalised during a meeting at the NIS headquarters in Abuja.

Leading the UNODC team, Ms. Baranage Diana Marcus, Project Coordinator on Cybercrime, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to support the NIS in tackling migration-related cybercrimes.

Representing the Comptroller-General, K. N. Nandap, Deputy Comptroller-General N. Odikpo described the partnership as timely, stressing the need for enhanced digital monitoring and coordinated enforcement.

The NIS said the collaboration demonstrates its commitment to promoting migration governance and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to combat cyber-enabled trafficking.