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  • Over a billion people live with mental health conditions – WHO

    Over a billion people live with mental health conditions – WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) said ‎more than one billion people are living with mental health disorders ‎according to a new data released.

    ‎ ‎The organisation said in a statement on Tuesday that the conditions ‎are anxiety and depression,  inflicting immense human and economic tolls, adding  that the services require urgent scale-up. ‎

    ‎”While many countries have bolstered their mental health policies and programmes, greater investment and action are needed globally to scale up services to protect and promote people’s mental health. ‎

    ‎”Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are highly ‎prevalent in all countries and communities, affecting people of all ‎ages and income levels. ‎ ‎

    “They represent the second biggest reason for long-term disability, contributing to loss of healthy life,” it said. ‎ ‎

    According to it, they drive up health-care costs for affected people and families while inflicting substantial economic losses on a global scale. ‎

    ‎It said that the new findings published in two reports – World mental health on Tuesday and Mental Health Atlas 2024 – highlight some areas of progress while ‎exposing significant gaps in addressing mental health conditions ‎worldwide. ‎ ‎

    ‎The statement said that the reports serve as critical tools to inform national strategies and shape global dialogue ahead of the 2025 United Nations High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases and promotion of mental health.

    ‎ ‎It said that the dialogue would take place in New York on September 25.

    ‎ ‎Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO ‎Director-General said that transforming mental health services was one of the most pressing public health challenges. ‎

    ‎Ghebreyesus said that investing in mental health meant investing in people, communities, and economies – an investment no country can ‎afford to neglect. ‎

    ‎”Every government and every leader has a responsibility to act with urgency and to ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all,” he said. ‎ ‎

    According to him, the report shows that while prevalence of mental health disorders can vary by sex, women are disproportionately impacted overall. ‎ ‎

    “Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common types of mental health ‎disorders among both men and women. ‎

    ‎”Suicide remains a devastating outcome, claiming an estimated 727 000 ‎lives in 2021 alone. It is a leading cause of death among young people ‎across all countries and socioeconomic contexts,” he said. ‎

    ‎Ghebreyesus said that despite global efforts, progress in reducing suicide mortality is too low to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of a one-third reduction in suicide rates by 2030. ‎

    ‎According to him, on the current trajectory, only a 12 per cent reduction will be achieved by that deadline. ‎ ‎

    “The economic impact of mental health disorders is staggering. ‎ While health-care costs are substantial, the indirect costs – particularly ‎in lost productivity – are far greater. ‎ ‎

    “Depression and anxiety alone ‎cost the global economy an estimated one trillion dollars each year,” he said.

    ‎ Ghebreyesus said that the findings underscore the urgent need for sustained investment, stronger prioritisation, and multi-sectoral collaboration to expand access to mental health care, reduce stigma, and tackle the root causes of mental health conditions. ‎

    ‎The ‎WHO boss said that since 2020, countries have been making significant strides in strengthening their mental health policies and planning. ‎

    According to him, many have updated their policies, adopted rights-based approaches, and enhanced ‎preparedness for mental health and psychosocial support during health ‎emergencies. ‎

    ‎”However, this momentum has not translated into legal reform. ‎

    ‎”Fewer countries have adopted or enforced rights-based mental health legislation, and only 45 per cent of countries evaluated laws in full compliance with international human rights standards,” he said. ‎ ‎

    He said that the report revealed concerns about stagnation in mental health ‎investment. ‎

    ‎”Median government spending on mental health remains at just 2 per cent of total health budgets – unchanged since 2017. ‎

    ‎”Disparities between countries are stark; while high-income countries spend up to ‎ 65 dollars per person on mental health, low-income countries spend as little as 0.04 dollars.

    The global median number of mental health workers stands at 13 per 100 000 people, with extreme shortages in low- and middle-income countries,” he said. ‎

    ‎Ghebreyesus said that reform and development of mental health services was progressing slowly. ‎

    ‎He said that fewer than 10 per cent of countries have fully transitioned to ‎community-based care models, with most countries still in the early ‎stages of transition. ‎

    ‎ “Inpatient care continues to rely heavily on psychiatric hospitals, with nearly half of admissions occurring involuntarily and over 20 per cent lasting longer than a year. ‎ ‎

    “Integration of mental health into primary care is advancing, with 71 per cent ‎of countries meeting at least three of five WHO criteria,” he said. ‎ ‎

    ‎According to him, only 22 countries provided sufficient data to estimate service coverage for psychosis. ‎ ‎ ‎

    He said that in low-income countries fewer than 10 per cent of affected individuals receive care, compared to over 50 per cent in higher-income nations highlighting an urgent need to expand access and strengthen service delivery. ‎ ‎

    “Encouragingly, most countries report having functional mental health ‎promotion initiatives such as early childhood development, ‎school-based mental health and suicide prevention programmes. ‎

    ‎”More than 80 per cent of countries now offer mental health and psychosocial support as part of emergency responses, up from 39 per cent in 2020. ‎

    ‎”Outpatient mental health services and telehealth are becoming more available, though access remains uneven,” he said. ‎

    ‎ ‎He said that while there have been some encouraging developments, the latest data showed that countries remain far off track to achieve the targets set in WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan.

    ‎ He called on governments and global partners to urgently intensify efforts toward systemic transformation of mental health systems ‎worldwide. ‎

    ‎”This includes: equitable financing of mental health services; legal and policy reform to uphold human rights;

    ‎ ‎”Others are sustained investment in the mental health workforce; and expansion of community-based, person-centered care.”

  • NAFDAC alerts drug firms to recall product

    NAFDAC alerts drug firms to recall product

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a recall notice for Embacef 125 Powder for Oral Suspension following safety concerns.

    The recall affects products manufactured by Laborate Pharmaceutical India and registered in Nigeria by Embassy Pharmaceutical and Chemicals Ltd, Lagos.

    In a public alert (No. 029/2025) posted on its website on Sunday, NAFDAC disclosed that the recall was triggered by a complaint received at its Ekiti State office.

    The agency said the complaint revealed that two bottles of the reconstituted suspension had solidified by the second day of use.

    NAFDAC’s investigation confirmed the product’s substandard quality and potential safety risks.

    “As a precautionary measure, the agency has directed a recall of the affected batch and any other batches exhibiting similar issues.”

    The agency stated that the recalled product, Embacef 125, contained Cefuroxime Axetil, an antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections, including bronchitis, gonorrhoea, Lyme disease, and infections of the skin, ears, sinuses, throat, tonsils, and urinary tract.

    It said the specific product details are: Manufacturing date: February 2025, expiry date: January 2027, batch Number: PEDSE001, NAFDAC Registration Number (NRN): A4-9040

    NAFDAC warned that the use of substandard antibiotics could worsen health conditions, lead to treatment failure, and contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

    It had directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and remove the affected product from circulation.

    The agency urged all importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and patients to be vigilant and ensure that medicines were sourced only from authorised and licensed suppliers.

    “Product authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

    “Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report any suspected substandard or falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or email sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

    “Reports of adverse events or side effects related to the use of this product can also be submitted through the Med-Safety App (available on Android and iOS), NAFDAC’s e-reporting platforms at www.nafdac.gov.ng, or via email at pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.”

    NAFDAC added that the notification would be uploaded to the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) to support international tracking and intervention.

  • WHO approves immediate global rollout of breakthrough HIV injection

    WHO approves immediate global rollout of breakthrough HIV injection

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for the immediate global rollout of a breakthrough HIV drug, lenacapavir (LEN), that only requires two injections per year to offer near-total protection against HIV and the development of AIDS.

    Described as a long-acting antiretroviral alternative to daily pills, lenacapavir was hailed by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus as “the next best thing” in HIV prevention, given the absence of an effective vaccine.

    “Lenacapavir has been shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among at-risk populations,” he said in a statement on Monday during the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS 2025) Conference on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda.

    WHO emphasised the urgent need to make LEN widely accessible, through pharmacies, clinics, and online consultations, especially as global HIV prevention efforts are faltering.

    To increase access, the agency also recommended rapid HIV testing over more complex and costly methods.

    According to WHO, 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2024, with the most affected groups being sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, prison populations, and young people.

    While lenacapavir is currently available mainly in clinical trials, the WHO urged governments, donors, and partners to incorporate it into national HIV prevention programmes without delay.

    The recommendation aligned with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of LEN in June.

    Other WHO-endorsed HIV prevention tools include daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir (every two months), and the dapivirine vaginal ring.

    The call for urgent action came amid major funding cuts to global HIV/AIDS programmes, including PEPFAR, the leading U.S. initiative launched in 2003.

    “We have the tools and the knowledge to end AIDS,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes.

    “What we need now is bold implementation of these recommendations, grounded in equity and powered by communities.”

    By the end of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV worldwide, 65 per cent of them in Africa.

    Around 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes that year, while 31.6 million were on antiretroviral treatment, up from 30.3 million in 2023.

  • South Sudan’s cholera outbreak enters critical stage- WHO

    South Sudan’s cholera outbreak enters critical stage- WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is working with health authorities in South Sudan and partners to scale up cholera prevention efforts, including a vaccination campaign.

    South Sudan – the world’s youngest country – is experiencing its worst and longest cholera outbreak on the eve of the fourteenth anniversary of its independence

    The outbreak – which started in September 2024 and was confirmed a month later – comes amidst a protracted humanitarian crisis exacerbated by rising intercommunal violence, climate shocks such as flooding and catastrophic hunger.

    “Now, more than ever, collective action is needed to reduce tensions, resolve political differences and make tangible progress in implementing peace,” Anita Kiki Gbeho, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan. said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Since the cholera outbreak was declared in October 2024, UN agencies and partners have documented over 80,000 cholera cases and 1,400 deaths.

    This is in addition to regional outbreaks of mpox, hepatitis, and measles among other communicable diseases.

    South Sudanese authorities, civil society, and UN agencies held an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss what they called an “alarming escalation” in the spread of the outbreak.

    “This is not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services,” the ministers wrote in a communiqué released.

    The group resolved to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to areas which already have outbreaks and to other areas at risk for outbreaks. The Government of South Sudan will coordinate these efforts.

    Partners will also work to preposition materials, improve water and sanitation infrastructure and coordinate proactive and reactive vaccination campaigns.

    With the peak of the rainy season on the horizon, the next eight weeks are critical in containing and mitigating the outbreak before severe flooding begins.

    “Time is of the essence to prevent a further escalation of the outbreak,” the officials wrote.

    Floods more than double the frequency of cholera outbreaks by imperiling access to clean water and impeding humanitarian access to affected areas.
    With rising global temperatures making floods more severe, millions of South Sudanese who were not previously in regions of concern may now be at risk for cholera

    Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated water or food.

    Although highly communicable, it is preventable through proper hygiene, regular handwashing, safe food preparation and storage, improved sanitation infrastructure, and vaccination.

    Symptoms typically include watery diarrhoea. Most cases are mild to moderate and can be treated effectively with oral rehydration salts (ORS) mixed with clean, boiled water.

    However, in severe cases, cholera can be fatal—sometimes within hours—if not treated promptly.

    Infected individuals can also transmit the disease through their faeces for up to ten days, even if they show no symptoms.

    In South Sudan, the already inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure and overstretched public health system has further deteriorated as a result of displacement and conflict.

    This has ripened the conditions for the spread of cholera.

    The UN and its partners are working quickly to preposition emergency supplies, especially in these previously low-risk areas, but they are hampered by funding shortfalls.

    Agencies estimate that they will need $1.69 billion – of which they have only received $368 million – to address the many intersecting humanitarian needs in the country.

    Nevertheless, the group of ministers insisted that this outbreak is and must remain a priority for all involved.

    “Cholera response and flood preparedness must be treated as urgent national priorities,” they said in the communiqué.

  • End aid dependency – WHO tells African leaders

    End aid dependency – WHO tells African leaders

    The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, has urged African leaders to break free from aid dependency and commit to self-reliance and sustainable development.

    Speaking at the ongoing Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW) in Marrakech, Morocco (June 1–3), Ghebreyesus emphasised the need for a shift in mindset and stronger leadership across the continent.

    “We cannot look to others to solve our problems. The mindset of aid dependency must stop.

    “The difference between crisis and opportunity is leadership, from all of us,” he said.

    Ghebreyesus also called for leadership from international lenders, urging fair, concessional lending terms for African nations.

    “When African countries pay more to borrow than high-income countries, there is something wrong with the system,” he noted.

    He stressed the need for donor support not for operating costs or donor-selected projects, but for strengthening national systems aligned with local priorities, such as the Lusaka Agenda’s “one plan, one budget, one report” principle.

    “WHO stands ready to support countries and work with all partners to turn this crisis into an opportunity.

    “The choices we make now will shape the future of global health financing. We must get it right,” he said.

    Ghebreyesus underscored that health should be seen as an investment in people, stability, and economic growth, not a cost.

    However, he said peace was even more fundamental to Africa’s future.

    “The best medicine is peace,” he declared.

    According to him, without peace, nothing else will make a difference.

    “In so many parts of our continent, the biggest barrier to development is conflict.”

    Recalling his visit to war-torn Sudan in 2024 and the refugee crisis in Chad, he described a dire health situation, with outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria, dengue, diphtheria, and polio.

    “Thousands are dying. We need a ceasefire to deliver vaccines and save lives,” he said.

    He ended by reaffirming WHO’s commitment to supporting African countries in building efficient, self-sustaining health systems and emphasised that peace remained the foundation for a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous Africa.

  • WHO approves 2 new vaccines to protect infants from RSV

    WHO approves 2 new vaccines to protect infants from RSV

    The World Health Organization (WHO), on Friday, issued recommendations for two new immunisation tools to protect infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

    They included a maternal vaccine, administered to pregnant women in their third trimester to protect their newborns.

    The other was a long-acting antibody injection for infants, which begins to protect within a week of administration and lasts for at least five months.

    According to WHO, RSV is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally.

    It causes around 100,000 deaths and 3.6 million hospitalisations each year among children under the age of five, while infants under six months are most at risk.

    Alarmingly, 97 per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, according to WHO.

    Although RSV can infect people of all ages, “it is especially harmful to infants, particularly those born prematurely,” a WHO official, Kate O’Brien, said.

    O’Brien added that around half of all RSV-related deaths occurred in babies younger than six months.

    Considering the global burden of severe RSV illness in infants, WHO recommended that all countries adopt either the maternal vaccine or the antibody injection as part of their national immunisation strategies.

    “These RSV immunisation products can transform the fight against severe RSV disease, dramatically reduce hospitalisations and deaths, and ultimately save many infant lives worldwide,” O’Brien said.

  • 20m Nigerians live with mental health issues – WHO

    20m Nigerians live with mental health issues – WHO

    A report by the World Health Organisation says 20 million Nigerians, representing 20 per cent of the country’s population, live with mental health conditions.

    Dr Azubike Aliche, the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria-American Institute for Mental Health (NAIMH),   said this at a mental health GAP Action training programme organised by the institute, in Owerri, on Tuesday.

    The training was organised in collaboration with the Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and Ethics (CSAAE), a Non Governmental Organisation.

    Aliche said that the training, sponsored by the Nigeria Mental Health Practitioners (NMHP) USA Incorporated, would equip  non-psychiatrists to be able to conduct screens to identify mental health symptoms and work with people to manage those symptoms.

    He described as “alarming” the caseload of depression in Nigeria, which he said, was reportedly the highest in the world and called for deliberate efforts to change the narrative.

    “Available reports indicate that only 10 per cent of people living with mental illness have access to care in Nigeria and this has to change”.

    Speaking, an Executive Member of the NMHP USA, Rev. Sr Josephine Nzeke, said that the four-day training would capture a total of 25 health care professionals, five from each of five council areas of Imo in its pilot stage.

    She said that the trainees would return to their different community health centres after the training to provide grassroots services.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu, described the mental health crisis as a  “ global challenge” and called on the institute to leverage government’s mental health policies.

    One of the training facilitators, Mr Justice Ulunta, of the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, called for the allocation of adequate resources by the government for the training of mental health experts and equipping of facilities.

    Also, CSAAE’s Chief Operations Officer, Miss Francisca Ekwonu, said that the organisation was open to effective collaborations to tackle the challenge head on.

    “As Nigerians grapple with hardship and young people are subjected to information overload, it is part of our mission, through our C-Health program, to propagate mental health support at the grassroots.

    “Our toll free line 08009001000 is open and our mental health support specialist will be there to provide support”, she said.

  • WHO moves to reduce workforce

    WHO moves to reduce workforce

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) is forced to reduce the number of employees due to a lack of money, and the number of departments will be reduced from 76 to 34.

    The Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said this on Monday.

    “As you know, we have been engaging in a major structural realignment, guided by an in-depth analysis of priorities.

    The prioritisation exercise has informed the development of a new streamlined structure for headquarters, which reduced the executive management team from 14 to 7.

    The number of departments from 76 to 34, Tedros said in a report to the World Health Assembly.

  • WHO warns of mass nurse emigration from Africa

    WHO warns of mass nurse emigration from Africa

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised an alarm as 42 per cent of nurses in Africa reported intentions to emigrate, posing a significant threat to the region’s already strained healthcare workforce.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, issued the warning in his message on Saturday, marking International Nurses Day.

    Ihekweazu highlighted that while the global nursing workforce had increased to 29.8 million, up from around 28 million in 2018, there were concerning disparities.

    “Nearly 80 per cent of nurses serve only 49 per cent of the world’s population, underscoring severe inequities in healthcare delivery.

    “Today, on International Nurses Day, we honour the commitment, compassion, and courage of nurses across Africa and the world.

    “Nurses represent nearly 70 per cent of the health workforce and are the foundation of our health systems, essential every day and indispensable in times of crisis,” Ihekweazu said.

    He said the theme for 2025 International Nurses Day, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Health Systems and Economies,“ highlighted the importance of supporting nurses to build resilient, equitable, and thriving health systems.

    Ihekweazu pointed out that while recent investments in nursing education and training in Africa had shown positive results, the number of nurses had increased from 900,000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023.

    “This growth is a testament to the efforts made to improve healthcare staffing on the continent.

    “However, in spite of these advancements, the nurse-to-population ratio remains one of the lowest globally, significantly lower than in high-income countries.

    “This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing healthcare workforce shortages in Africa.

    “Yet, this is still one of the lowest ratios worldwide and more than tenfold lower than in high-income countries,” he said.

    He noted that nurses accounted for 66 per cent of Africa’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030, a gap that limited access to essential healthcare services and hindered progress towards universal health coverage.

    Additionally, Ihekweazu emphasised that in spite of 43 per cent of the nursing workforce in Africa being under 35, many nurses lacked access to mentorship or clear career pathways.

    He also raised concerns about the continued recruitment of nurses from low-income countries by high-income nations, which relied heavily on foreign-born nurses, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of their nursing workforce.

    He also highlighted a 43 per cent shortfall in health workforce financing in African countries, leading to widespread underemployment, particularly among nurses and midwives.

    According to him, in May 2024, African leaders endorsed the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, paving the way for long-term improvements.

    Ihekweazu noted that some countries, like Zimbabwe, were taking steps to address the challenges.

    “For example, Zimbabwe’s new Investment Compact aims to mobilise an additional 166 million dollars annually over the next three years to strengthen its health workforce.

    According to him, the annual report outlines a clear path forward.

    “Key recommendations include expanding nursing education, with a focus on digital and clinical training, and strengthening regulation.

    “Additionally, the report emphasises the introduction of advanced practice roles and the improvement of working conditions, such as mental health support and fair pay.

    “In spite of women comprising 85 per cent of the nursing workforce, the gender pay gap remains at 7 per cent,” he said.

    Ihekweazu ended by stressing the broader role of nurses: “Nurses are more than caregivers.

    “They are educators, innovators, and frontline responders, often working in the most remote, under-resourced, or crisis-affected areas.

    “As we mark this day, let us move beyond words to action. Let us commit to building a future in which nurses are trained, protected, respected, and empowered to lead.”

  • Diphtheria: LASG, WHO inspect King’s College, Annex

    Diphtheria: LASG, WHO inspect King’s College, Annex

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday inspected the King’s  College Annex,  Lagos, during an emergency diphtheria vaccination exercise for students at the Annex in Victoria Island.

    The inspection/visit, was led by Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner of Health.

    It was necessitated by a recent diphtheria outbreak in the school, and was part of  government’s measure and urgent response to curb the spread of the disease.

    NAN reports that the government’s moves came following NAN’s report making public the outbreak of diphtheria in the school.

    Some of the places inspected included the dining hall, kitchen area, dormitories and toilets.

    Abayomi, while addressing the students, said the government considered the issue as serious and efforts were already in place to curb the outbreak of the disease.

    He added that more attention should be given to the sanitary condition, class rooms, dormitories and other locations in the school.

    According to the commissioner, 14 of the students who have shown signs of the disease are responding to treatment in the hospital.

    He said the vaccine being administered was a booster vaccine and a combination of diphtheria and tetanus.

    The commissioner said teachers , house officers and the entire staff of the school would also be vaccinated.

    He urged the management of the school to ensure proper spacing and ventilation for the students.

    He urged parents not to panic, saying it was better for the students to remain in school in order to curb the spread of the disease.

    Abayomi, however, appealed to parents who had yet to give their consent for their children/wards to get the vaccination, to do so,  for them to be vaccinated.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diphtheria is a contagious disease that is caused by toxin-producing bacteria.

    It can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

    The diphtheria toxin causes damage to the respiratory tract and can spread throughout the body.

    Common symptoms include fever, sore throat and swelling of the neck glands.

    Diphtheria can affect anyone but is most common in unvaccinated children.

    The health agency said overcrowding in residential camps increases the risk of infection, emphasising that the risk of complications or death decreases considerably if appropriate treatment is provided early in the course of the illness.