Health care
Africa CDC Commended Equatorial Guinea’s Malaria Progress
Africa CDC Commended Equatorial Guinea’s Malaria Progress
Africa CDC commended Equatorial Guinea’s malaria progress. “Only nine countries out of 55 in Africa are malaria-free. Equatorial Guinea is on track to become the next,” Africa CDC chief said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has commended Equatorial Guinea’s milestone in malaria control, highlighting broader continental advances in disease surveillance, outbreak response, and local manufacturing of essential health commodities.
Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, disclosed this during a weekly high-level regional press briefing on Thursday, outlining progress in malaria elimination, emergency preparedness, and institutional reforms across member states.
Mr Kaseya said children under five and pregnant women remained most affected by malaria, which accounted for 95 per cent of global cases and 96 per cent of related deaths recorded worldwide.
He described Equatorial Guinea’s malaria response as a pilot model for elimination that other African countries could replicate, noting that sustained political commitment and targeted interventions were critical to progress.
“Only nine countries out of 55 in Africa are malaria-free. Equatorial Guinea is on track to become the next,” he said, underscoring the country’s steady advances toward elimination status.
He warned that drug and insecticide resistance, alongside climate change, were expanding malaria transmission zones, threatening recent gains and complicating efforts to reduce infections and deaths continent-wide.
The director-general reported that Africa CDC had significantly strengthened outbreak detection and response capacities through expanded surveillance systems, improved coordination mechanisms, and enhanced technical support to member states.
“Public Health Emergency Operations Centres increased from five in 2022 to 32 in 2025, while laboratory networks and pathogen genomic capacity have improved dramatically. As a result, reported outbreaks dropped from 189 in early 2025 to 72 in 2026,” he added.
He attributed the decline to faster detection and coordinated regional responses.
Mr Kaseya said funding utilisation at Africa CDC rose from 34 per cent in 2022 to 95 per cent, while overall funding increased from $52 million to $463 million.
He said human resources were expanded and repurposed rather than reduced, with deliberate attention to gender balance and equitable geographic representation across the institution’s workforce and leadership structures.
Africa CDC
Mr Kaseya said the African Union recently endorsed the Africa Executive Sovereignty agenda, replacing the “new public health order” framework that has guided the continent’s health security reforms.
Mr Kaseya announced plans for an extraordinary summit on local manufacturing in Nairobi in May 2026 and the Conference on Public Health in Africa in Ethiopia in November 2026.
He said Africa CDC also planned to establish an African medical prize, starting in 2027, to recognise outstanding contributions by African scientists advancing medicine and public health innovation.
He highlighted recent outbreak responses, including Uganda’s anthrax outbreak, where Africa CDC supplied 10,000 vaccine doses, and cholera outbreaks in Mozambique, Somalia, and Zambia, worsened by flooding.
Mr Kaseya stressed the importance of Africa producing its own vaccines and diagnostics to reduce reliance on external suppliers and strengthen the continent’s long-term health security.
Equatorial Guinea’s health minister joined the briefing, outlining how the country analysed malaria trends, implemented pilot interventions, and scaled elimination efforts.
Ogun Assembly Pledges More Supports For Rural Healthcare Reform
Ogun assembly pledges more supports for rural healthcare reform. He also advocated improved and timely funding for primary health care centres.
Ogun State Assembly
The Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, has assured a World Bank-led delegation of sustained legislative support for rural healthcare reform.
Mr Elemide gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit by officials of the World Bank, key federal ministries and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at his office in Abeokuta.
The delegation was in the state to review public financial management practices at the primary health care level across selected local government areas.
They later visited the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, as part of broader engagements with critical stakeholders in the state’s health governance structure.
“The Ogun State House of Assembly is irrevocably committed to collaborating with the World Bank and other stakeholders.
“We will continue to support initiatives that enhance transparency, accountability and effective healthcare delivery for our people.”
The speaker explained that the legislature was responsible for lawmaking, appropriation and oversight of government programmes and public expenditure.
He clarified that while lawmakers approve budgets, the release and disbursement of funds remain within the executive’s constitutional mandate.
Mr Elemide commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for what he described as significant investments in renovating and reconstructing primary health care centres across the state.
He said the administration’s intervention had improved access to healthcare services, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Ogun Assembly
However, the speaker called for increased recruitment of qualified medical personnel to address manpower shortages in many facilities.
He also advocated improved and timely funding for primary health care centres to consolidate infrastructure gains and ensure quality service delivery.
Earlier, the delegation leader, Maxwell Dapaah, acknowledged visible infrastructural improvements in several centres visited across local government areas.
Mr Dapaah said the team observed better buildings and equipment but noted operational challenges that required urgent attention.
He expressed concern over insufficient funding, weak financial controls and the lack of automation of patient records.
“These issues have been communicated to the executive arm for necessary action and policy response,” Mr Dapaah said.
FG To Open Armed Forces Medical College To Address Shortage Of Doctors
FG to open Armed Forces Medical College to address shortage of doctors. Nigeria will establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine at the Defence Academy to train doctors and military medics, tackling the 340,000-doctor shortfall.
Cadets will be commissioned as Armed Forces officers, with admissions via JAMB and clinical training in military hospitals.
Armed Forces Medical College
Intake is expected by October–November 2026.
How Governor Eno’s Ambulance Service Saved Life In Akwa Ibom Community
How Governor Eno’s ambulance service saved life in Akwa Ibom community. Just few minutes ago along Udo Udoma Avenue, by the Aka Junction in Uyo, a young lady reportedly slumped while attempting to cross the road. What could have ended in tragedy.
A single call was placed to the state’s emergency ambulance service, and within minutes, the response team was already on ground, providing immediate medical attention.
This swift intervention underscores the impacts of Governor Umo Eno’s visionary leadership. It shows the value placed on human life by the current administration.
Ambulance
Such prompt response is not only commendable but also a demonstration of the current administration’s commitment to implementing impactful programmes through the ARISE Agenda.
May God continue to bless and strengthen our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno as he continue to lead with compassion, foresight, and genuine concern for the people.
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