The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, said over 60,000 lives have been lost each year since 1990 due to Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria.

Ursu stated this in his message on Tuesday to mark the 2025 World AMR Awareness Week, themed “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.

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The WHO stated that AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.

As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.

The World AMR Awareness Week is a global campaign celebrated annually from November 18-24 to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders, and policymakers.

According to Ursu, AMR is a growing global threat; disproportionately targeting Lower- and Middle-Income Countries and vulnerable populations.

He also said AMR is already affecting health, healthcare costs, food security, environment, economies, and sustainable development.

He highlighted that AMR is a rapidly growing, silent threat that undermines modern medicine and health security, causes deadly outbreaks, especially in poor settings and among vulnerable groups, and worsens child and maternal mortality.

He said that despite rising drug-resistant infections, awareness, funding, and action are still insufficient.

“Globally, in 2021 alone, AMR was associated with an estimated 4.71 million deaths, with 1.14 million directly attributable and 1.05 million indirectly, with 250,000 deaths directly attributed to AMR in sub-Saharan Africa.

“An estimated 178 million disability-adjusted lives are lost due to AMR and will cost nearly $1tn annually to the global economy, if left unchecked. AMR could claim up to 39 million lives by 2050, as per recent projections in 2021.

“In Nigeria, over 60,000 lives have been lost each year since 1990 due to AMR. In 2021 alone, an estimated 50,500 (36,900-64,100) deaths were attributed, and 227,000 (167,000-286,000) were associated with bacterial AMR, with the largest number of deaths occurring among under five age groups.

“These alarming estimates and projections underscore the urgency for collective action with the government and society approach; an urgent need to integrate AMR with Primary Health care to accelerate AMR response, achieve UHC guided by the WHO people-centred approach, with broader Sector-Wide Approach, food security, and climate change initiatives,” Ursu noted.

He said this year’s theme underscores the urgent need for bold, coordinated, cross-sectoral action to address AMR as a present danger that demands immediate, sustained action.

He called on all stakeholders across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to turn political commitments on AMR into concrete, accountable actions.

He urged urgent investment in surveillance, innovation, equitable access to medicines and diagnostics, and stronger health systems.

“Building on the momentum of the 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on AMR and Nigeria hosting 5th global high level ministerial AMR conference in Abuja in June 2026; and on occasion of WAAW week, I urge all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, health-care providers, veterinarians, farmers, environmental actors and the public to translate the political commitments into tangible, accountable, life-saving interventions.

“I call for urgent actions to protect our present and secure our future, and prioritise long-term investment and strategic action in the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

“We must support strengthening AMR and one health surveillance, national AMR survey, ensure equitable access to quality medicines and diagnostics, foster innovation, and build resilient health systems that require long-term commitment and resources, including domestic financing.

“Investment in AMR action is smart and an essential step towards a healthier, more secure future. Whether it is a hospital administrator establishing an antimicrobial stewardship team or a farmer adopting sustainable waste management practices, every action counts,” he added.

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Board Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barrister Cosmas Ternenge Akighir, has assured the people of the North Central geopolitical zone that the Commission will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to tackle insecurity, improve road infrastructure, and enhance health and education across the region.

Speaking at a dinner held in his honour by the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Akighir stressed the importance of forging strong partnerships with state governments, individuals, and corporate organizations.

Such collaboration, he said, would position the Commission as a model institution “standing tall when others are sitting down.”

“We have a robust roadmap for developing our people—education, healthcare, road networks, and beyond. On insecurity, we will liaise with local vigilantes in partnership with the state governments. In all our endeavours, we will bring every necessary stakeholder on board to drive our agenda. I see the Commission becoming a model others will envy,” he said.

Akighir also highlighted the region’s vast mineral resources, noting that about 40 percent of Nigeria’s mineral deposits lie within the North Central zone. The Commission, he assured, would work within its mandate to ensure proper management of these resources to generate jobs and revenue for the people and government. He added that the NCDC would promote irrigation farming to boost food security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priorities.

Representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, praised President Tinubu for appointing Akighir as the pioneer Board Chairman of the NCDC. He urged him to remain consultative and engage widely with elders and stakeholders to record steady success.

“Barrister Cosmas is a young man with vibrant ideas. His appointment is well deserved. I thank President Tinubu for giving him this opportunity. I also advise him to always seek guidance from elders and carry stakeholders along so his journey will be smooth,” Utsev said.

Speaking on his ministry’s work, the Minister explained that the government had embarked on a comprehensive assessment of irrigable lands and the state of dams across the country. He noted that ongoing rehabilitation efforts, in partnership with private and development organizations, aim to strengthen year-round farming and reinforce national food security.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association, Sir Frank Aul Mku, expressed the group’s appreciation and loyalty to Senator Akume. He commended the political leadership that has elevated the Jemgbagh axis and congratulated Akighir on his new role.

“We have over 100 members. We are not a political party, but we stand firmly behind you. We appreciate your leadership that has brought recognition to Jemgbagh. We wish our son, Barrister Cosmas Ternenge Akighir, the very best,” he said.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

In order to speed up the elimination of cervical cancer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday, urged  African countries to intensify efforts, because the tools needed to end the disease are already within reach but remain unevenly accessible across the continent.

This was contained in a statement issued by WHO in commemoration of World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day 2025, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr.

Mohamed Janabi, said the day offers both an opportunity to celebrate progress and a reminder that “no woman should die from a preventable disease.”

He noted cervical cancer as “one of the most common and deadly cancers among women in Africa,” but stressed that it is equally “one of the most preventable.

” According to him, with available tools — HPV vaccination, timely screening and proper treatment — African nations can “make elimination a reality.”

Highlighting regional progress, the WHO Regional Director revealed that 32 Member States have already introduced HPV vaccines into their national immunisation schedules, reaching “nearly half of all eligible girls.” He added that several more countries rolled out the vaccine this year, while “at least eight others plan to do so in 2026.”

“Each of these introductions represents protection — against both a virus and against loss, suffering and lives cut short too soon,” he said.

Janabi also praised the expansion of the Women’s Integrated Cancer Services (WICS) initiative, which aims to embed cervical and breast cancer screening into primary health care. He said the model, presented to African health ministers earlier this year, offers a “continuous, accessible and women-centred” approach that strengthens prevention, early detection and treatment.

The WHO Regional Director said that recent gains would not have been possible without “powerful partnerships,” noting collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and other UN bodies in supporting national cancer control assessments and planning.

He also acknowledged the support of major donors, singling out the Government of Spain for enabling WHO to help countries upgrade national cancer plans, train health workers and supply equipment needed for treating pre-cancerous lesions.

Despite these advancements, Janabi warned that cervical cancer remains a major health threat because “too many women still lack access to screening, diagnosis and treatment,” and many health systems remain inadequately funded to deliver essential services.

“Progress is not yet victory,” he cautioned, urging governments to increase financing, coordination and political commitment to cervical cancer elimination.

He called on all African Member States to accelerate national action under the three pillars of the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination — vaccination, screening and treatment.

“Together, we can make elimination a reality, securing a future where every woman in Africa, wherever she lives, has access to the protection, care and dignity she deserves,” Janabi said.