From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Fresh Lassa Fever outbreak has claimed the life of a senior medical doctor working with APIN Foundation in Konshisha local government area of Benue State.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Service, Dr.

Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, who confirmed the new case to journalists in Makurdi on Monday, disclosed that the ministry has embarked on case and contact tracings.

Ogwuche stated that the victim succumbed to the disease after struggling within himself for over two weeks, saying the State is on the verge of declaring the outbreak over before the new case was recorded a few days ago.

According to him, emergency response measures have been activated to contain the spread of the viral disease and protect residents.

He maintained that with this fresh outbreak, the ministry has heightened its campaign again and reactivated its awareness campaign by going back to the communities even though they have been doing this all these while.

“There is a fresh case of Lassa Fever in the State. Only one doctor had died. The victim was buried on last Saturday being 20th June, 2026. He worked with APIN Foundation in the Konshisha local government area of the State, but hailed from the Kwande local government axis.

“So far, there is no other person on admission at any hospital in the State. In fact, we wanted to declare the outbreak over before this case came up. The doctor took ill and was managing himself at home and in a private hospital.

“For over two weeks he was struggling and when there was no improvement, then another of his friends told him that his situation is suggestive of Lassa Fever and they carried out something like a casual test on him which turned positive.

“So, when we even wanted to put him on admission at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, he said no, that we should give him drugs to take at home and injection. But we said no, it wouldn’t work like that. He was eventually taken to the teaching hospital for a test”, he said.

According to the commissioner, a baseline investigation was conducted on the victim where it was discovered that his kidney is getting affected.

“We have to refer him to Jos. So, he actually died in Jos and the corpse was brought from JUTH and buried on Saturday”.

Speaking on other measures being taken to forestall further outbreak, Dr. Ogwuche intimated that the responses to all those emergencies are similar, adding that with the recent outbreak of  Ebola,  NCDC has been giving them updates and also putting them on alert.

“So also we have been doing that. We checked all our facilities, heightened our surveillance and for this particular case, we have embarked on case and contact tracings too, spreading the message. We have ongoing engagement with the media for jiggles. We are thinking of bringing people to churches and mosques to train and even traditional rulers too because they are in the communities.

“Like I told you earlier, we are about to declare the outbreak over after the 42 incubation period before this case broke out. This is the only case for now. And so, we are still going to wait for another 42 days of incubation before we can think of declaring it over again. But off course, we are looking at it becoming endemic now even though it has season. We need to keep on educating people”, Ogwuche added.

Meanwhile, another medical doctor identified as Dr. Tyoor Cedric Kondom who graduated recently and is waiting for his induction into the profession in the next ten days, has died of bone marrow failure in the State.

The Benue Medical and Dental Students’ Association (BEMSA-National) announced his death in a tribute, describing him as a dedicated and hardworking graduate whose life was cut short at a crucial moment in his career.

“With deep sadness and a profound sense of loss, we join family, friends, and colleagues in mourning the passing of our beloved brother and colleague, Dr. Kondom Cedric, who passed away on Thursday, 18th June 2026,” the association stated.

According to the tribute, Cedric had successfully completed the rigorous demands of medical school and was only days away from being formally inducted as a medical doctor when he died.

The association described him as an exceptional young professional whose time in medical school was marked by determination, resilience, and commitment to the practice of medicine

As Nigeria celebrates Father’s Day 2026, many fathers are battling silent, severe mental health crisis driven by crushing economic hardships and deep societal pressures.

They also decried the systemic gender bias and lack of support structures for men in Nigeria and Africa, urging immediate nationwide commitment to promoting mental health advocacy and institutional recognition for men.

Fathers also spoke on Sunday in Lagos, highlighting their expectations for stronger family bonds and a more inclusive society.

The 2026 Father’s Day is being celebrated on Sunday, June 21: it is an annual observance marked on the third Sunday of June.

Underscoring the psychological weight modern men carried, a Men’s Mental Health advocate, Halima Layeni, emphasised that a severe mental health crisis, driven by relentless societal pressures and economic challenges, was quietly ravaging Nigerian fathers.

Layeni, the Founder and Executive Director of the Life Abuse Foundation (LAAF), presented a grim overview of key issues confronting men across the country, including underemployment, financial inadequacy, and alarming rates of unreported domestic violence against men.

To cushion this crisis, Layeni advocated for the urgent establishment of a Federal Ministry of Men Affairs to ensure men received the structural protection and psychological support necessary for their well-being.

“The establishment of the Ministry of Men Affairs is of immense importance.

“The ministry will provide focused attention on men’s unique issues, improve health outcomes through targeted campaigns, and create economic opportunities that enhance stability and reduce poverty among men,” she said.

Corroborating the advocate’s position, a civil servant, Ferdinand Okoji, noted that the pressure to fulfill traditional roles as primary providers without receiving corresponding domestic appreciation induced severe psychological stress in men.

“Fathers toil day and night to ensure they put food on the table, take care of the family, provide, and make sure that everybody is happy.

“However, most women take it for granted.

“This comes with a lot of stress on men trying to meet up with daily obligations,” Okoji stated.

He added that instead of finding their homes to be peaceful sanctuaries to unwind from economic anxieties, many men faced hostile and cold environments.

“When these men come back home, instead of their wives to calm the stress level the men have gone through, they put more fire.

“It is unfortunate, and the challenge continues as the economic situation of the country continues to batter men,” he said.

Also contributing, a 60-year-old father, Papa Ejima, decried how macro-economic hardships like inflation, unemployment, terrorism, and kidnapping directly impacted paternal mental well-being, especially when children project societal failures onto their fathers.

Papa Ejima lamented that the current hardship had triggered a massive youth migration (Japa) wave, leaving aging parents, especially fathers, isolated and anxious about their future care.

According to him, the mothers would usually join their children especially when it was time for “omugwo’’.

“I have a daughter that graduated from the university two years ago and she has not been employed.

“Each day, my daughter puts the blame on me because of the hardship in the land, demanding that she wants to migrate to another country to secure a job.

“So, the challenge now is, who will take care of me at old age if all of them decide to travel out of the country or out of my base in search of greener pastures?” he asked.

By David Torough, Abuja

Preparations have reached an advanced stage for the World Sickle Cell Day 2026 Awareness Walk and Community Health Outreach, scheduled to take place in Zuba, Abuja, on June 20, as organizers intensify efforts to mobilize public participation ahead of the event.

The initiative, themed “Together, We Can End the Pain of Sickle Cell,” is being organized by a coalition of sickle cell advocacy groups, including the Beulah Sickle Cell Foundation, Obi Ogbonnia Sickle Cell Foundation (OOSCF), Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs, Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation, StrongCell Foundation, SOM Sickle Cell Foundation, and Cells of a Generation Initiative.

Organizers say the event is expected to be one of the largest community-driven sickle cell awareness campaigns in the Federal Capital Territory this year, bringing together healthcare professionals, volunteers, corporate organizations, schools, faith-based groups, community leaders, development partners, and members of the public.

The outreach aims to increase awareness about sickle cell disorder, encourage genotype testing and counseling, support individuals and families affected by the condition, and strengthen community engagement in prevention and care efforts.

Activities scheduled for the day include an awareness walk from the Central Mosque, Zuba, to the FCT College of Education, Zuba (Old Campus), alongside free genotype screening and counseling services, health education sessions, advocacy engagements, and support programmes for people living with sickle cell disorder.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat.

It is also receiving support from organizations such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Novo Nordisk Haemophilia & Haemoglobinopathies Foundation (NNHF), IHS Towers, Indomie Noodles, DNT Auto Limited, and other corporate and development partners.

The event has also received the endorsement of His Royal Highness Muhammad Bello Umar, the Agora of Zuba, whose support has contributed to community mobilization efforts.

Speaking ahead of the outreach, Founder and President of the Obi Ogbonnia Sickle Cell Foundation, Obi Light Ogbonnia, described the collaboration as a significant milestone in sickle cell advocacy in Nigeria.

“This is more than an awareness walk. It is a demonstration of what can be achieved when patient organizations, government institutions, development partners, corporate organizations, and traditional institutions unite around a common cause,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to participate in the event, stressing the importance of collective action in raising awareness, supporting individuals living with sickle cell disorder, and advocating for improved healthcare outcomes.

Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally, making awareness campaigns, early diagnosis, genotype education, and access to quality healthcare essential components of efforts to reduce the impact of the condition.

As the event draws closer, organizers have renewed calls for volunteers and sponsors, emphasizing that contributions through funding, materials, expertise, and participation will help ensure the success and impact of the outreach.