Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday in Enugu, distributed 10,000 Professional Kits for midwives in South-East aimed improving healthcare delivery in the zone.

Flagging-Off the programme during her two-day official visit to Enugu State , the president’s wife said the distribution were for midwives in the Southeast States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi Enugu and Imo.

According to her, the event is to complement the ongoing Federal Government retraining of health workers to improve healthcare of Nigerians.

The programme was part of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) aimed at improving the healthcare of Nigerians especially the vulnerable groups.

She said, “This is a training for 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide.

I have been told that 60,470 health workers have already completed their training.

“In view of this, RHI procured 60,000 branded scrubs and 60,000 pairs of crocs as an incentive to encourage health workers”.

She added that, “Since the initial launch of RHI in January 2025, we have distributed 50,000 scrubs and pairs of crocs to five geopolitical zones, namely North Central, North East, North West, South South and the Southwest.

“Today, we are in Enugu to distribute the remaining 10,000, each of the crocs and scrubs”.

She explained that the donation towards it had been made possible through the general support of Anonymous Global Partners, dedicated towards achieving health outcomes for Nigeria citizens.

The first lady said that the donors were committed to supporting the Organisation of the African First Ladies for Development and the health sector in Nigeria and across the world with a specific focus on reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity.

“Tuesday by the grace of God, I will be launching the “Free to Shine Triple Elimination Campaign” for HIV, AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in Enugu.

“This initiative aims to promote healthier mothers, reduce new HIV infections amongst mothers of reproductive age.

“ It will also eliminate mothers through child transmission of HIV, AIDS, which is the vertical transmission and provide treatment for children born with HIV,” Tinubu said.

She said the RHI would be presenting an additional grant of N50 million to the First Lady of Enugu State, with a sum of N50,000 each to 1,000 women petty traders in Enugu State to recapitalize their existing businesses.

In her welcome address, the Wife of Enugu Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, appreciated Tinubu for her commitment in building an inclusive society through RHI.

She said the initiative had significantly impacted countless lives across the nation’s diverse geopolitical zones.

“Your noble endeavour has brought succour and hope to communities that have long yearned for such intervention. Here in Enugu State, we are profoundly grateful for the transformative outcomes of RHI.

“Midwives are at the frontiers of maternal and child health. Empowering these important healthcare workers is crucial to the push to reduce maternal and under- five mortality rates radically,” Mbah said.

Tinubu also inaugurated the state-of-the-art Technical, Vocational Education, and Training College (GTC), Enugu.(NAN) 

The Kwara State Government has urged residents to prioritize oral hygiene by maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and other tissues in the mouth.

Dr Amina El-Imam, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin during the opening ceremony of a three-day free oral health outreach.

The outreach was organized by the state government in partnership with Pharma Deko PLC.

Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, the commissioner described oral health as a vital but often overlooked aspect of overall healthcare.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving oral health across the state, stressing that it was a key component of general wellbeing.

“Oral health is the cornerstone of overall health, yet it is often neglected.

“Poor oral hygiene contributes to several non-communicable diseases, though its effects are gradual and often unnoticed until they become serious,” she said.

El-Imam commended the recent renovation and equipping of the state’s dental clinic and encouraged residents to take full advantage of the outreach by accessing free dental checks and receiving professional guidance on oral hygiene.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Pharma Deko PLC, Mr Ishola Olukayode, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting oral health in Nigeria.

He warned that many people unknowingly use harmful substances on their teeth due to a lack of awareness, putting their health at risk.

Olukayode stressed that oral hygiene extended beyond brushing, highlighting the importance of regular professional check-ups and community education.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Kasali Ajao, noted that brushing alone addressed only about 40 per cent of oral hygiene needs.

He recommended professional procedures such as scaling and polishing at least twice a year for comprehensive oral care.(NAN)

 Prof. Isaac Adewole, Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), says Nigeria will require N2.2 trillion to implement comprehensive cervical cancer interventions between 2026 and 2030.

Adewole, a former Minister of Health, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN), an initiative of the NTF-CCE.

The initiative, launched at the State House by the First Lady, Sen.

Oluremi Tinubu, aims to accelerate Nigeria’s achievement of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination.

reports that PECCiN seeks to catalyze multi-sectoral efforts to prevent, screen, and treat cervical cancer through sustained coordination, resource mobilization, and scale-up of service delivery.

According to Adewole, the interventions are grouped into three categories: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary treatment.

He explained that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme will be delivered through fixed sessions at health facilities and outreach-based immunisation campaigns.

“The total direct implementation cost over the five years is estimated at N387.52 billion,” he said.

“Including administrative and supervisory costs, the total cost of HPV vaccination will amount to N426.28 billion.”

He said cervical cancer screening over the same period is estimated to cost N351 billion, targeting 14.4 million women.

On tertiary treatment, Adewole noted that nearly 300,000 women will require care for invasive cervical cancer between 2026 and 2030.

“The country is projected to spend approximately N1.42 trillion on treatment, with the cost per patient dropping from N8.7 million in 2026 to N4.1 million by 2030,” he added.

In spite of other competing priorities, he urged investment in cervical cancer elimination due to its high return on investment.

“We seek your commitment and support to implement robust cervical cancer elimination interventions in Nigeria.

“This will ensure that every woman is financially protected throughout her life and no eligible adolescent is left behind in HPV vaccination.”

Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said the Federal Government launched the HPV vaccine campaign on Oct. 24, 2023, targeting girls aged 9 to 14.

He announced that 14 million girls had already received the vaccine.

“This milestone is unprecedented globally and was achieved through strong leadership from President Bola Tinubu, the support of the First Lady, and collaboration across ministries and communities.

“The media also played a key role in spreading awareness and engaging civil society.”

Aina reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining the programme, stating that the HPV vaccine has been incorporated into the routine immunisation schedule and that primary healthcare centres are being revitalised to support service delivery.

Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), described cervical cancer as a serious burden affecting mothers, sisters, caregivers, and peers across communities.

He said the growing burden prompted the development of the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer (2023–2037).

“This plan, reflecting best practices and local realities, serves as our national roadmap for cervical cancer elimination,” he said.

Aliyu added that NICRAT has constituted a national taskforce comprising experts and stakeholders to drive implementation.

He also highlighted efforts to promote innovative research, harmonise treatment protocols, and expand culturally sensitive awareness and screening campaigns.

The event featured the presentation of the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan and the unveiling of the PECCiN partnership logo. (NAN)