A mosquito control campaign aimed at reducing the propagation of mosquitoes, which are the primary vectors of malaria has been launched by the city of Niamey, the capital of Niger.
It was announced in a statement by the municipal authorities that the disease usually thrived in unsanitary and stagnant areas.

“To counter this threat, the city’s delegated administrator encourages citizens to take the necessary precautions, including “protecting their food supplies and drinks during the work of the teams.”

It is important to note that malaria is prevalent in Niger year-round, both in rural and urban areas.

It is also one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the country, particularly among children under the age of five and pregnant women, according to officials.

In 2022, the country recorded 5.3 million cases of malaria, resulting in 5,678 deaths, as reported by Nigerien Minister of Public Health Garba Hakimi on the occasion of World Malaria Day.

The Kaduna State Government has signed a Contribution Agreement with UNICEF for the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, aiming to reintegrate 200,000 out-of-school children into the classroom.

At the signing ceremony, Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe emphasized that the project addresses one of Kaduna State’s most pressing challenges – the high number of out-of-school children.

Dr. Balarabe noted that many children, particularly girls, children with disabilities, and adolescents, are excluded from educational opportunities, and the project seeks to reverse this trend and bring transformative change.

The project’s benefits will extend to various stakeholders, including out-of-school children, primary school pupils, teachers, head teachers, and local education authorities.

UNICEF Country Representative Cristian Munduate highlighted the successful enrollment of 49,000 children in the Nigeria Learning Passport, significantly expanding access to quality education across Kaduna State through this collaboration.

The partnership demonstrates the commitment of Kaduna State and UNICEF to improving education outcomes and reducing the number of out-of-school children.

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish blood collection centers in all 774 local government areas, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This initiative aims to ensure a steady supply of blood for medical emergencies and transfusions.

According to a statement released on Saturday in Abuja by Abdullahi Haruna, Head of Media and Publicity for the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), the move is part of the government’s efforts to address blood shortages in the country. Prof. Saleh Yuguda, Director-General of NBSA, emphasized the government’s commitment to saving lives through this initiative, which will help bridge the gap in blood availability during critical situations.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure that blood needs are adequately addressed, and this initiative is a significant step towards achieving that goal.

“NBSA has partnered with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to establish a formidable blood bank at the Corp’s medical facility.

“This collaboration aims to mitigate blood shortages during medical emergencies and provide critical support to sister security agencies,” he said.

He explained that to kickstart the blood collection project, the FCT will host strategic blood collection facilities in easily accessible locations.

This move is expected to increase blood donation rates and ensure a steady supply of blood for medical purposes.