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WHO raises concern on potential global threat to people living with HIV

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3 months ago

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World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern about the implications of the immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries.

The organisation said in a statement that funding for HIV programmes provided access to life-saving therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide.

The organisation added that “globally, 39.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2023.

“A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with the virus at increased risk of illness and death.

“It can also undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries.

“Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to increase in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally.”

The health organisation said that for the global community, this could result to significant setbacks to progress in partnerships and investments in scientific advances that have been the cornerstone of good public health programming.

The HIV funding covers innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines and community delivery models of care.

The global body, therefore, called on the U.S. Government to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care.

It recalled the United State President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) flagship initiative of the global HIV response established more than 20 years ago, noting that the legacy of the relief initiative is at risk.

“The current funding pause for PEPFAR will have direct impact on millions of lives that depend on the predictable supply of safe and effective antiretroviral treatment.

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“PEPFAR works in over 50 countries around the world. Over the past two decades, PEPFAR funding saved more than 26 million lives.

“Currently, PEPFAR is providing HIV treatment to more than 20 million people living with the virus globally, including 566 000 children under 15 years of age,” it said.

It noted that over the past year, PEPFAR and partners, including WHO, have been working on sustainability plans with countries for greater country ownership and reduced donor support up to and beyond 2030.

“A sudden and prolonged stop to programmes can put the lives of millions at risk.

“WHO is committed to support PEPFAR and other partners, as well as national governments, in managing change processes effectively to minimise the impact on people living with HIV,” it added.

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Immunization Week: Vaccines sustainable, save 6 lives per minute – UNICEF

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2 days ago

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April 27, 2025

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described vaccines used in immunisation efforts as “sustainable” adding that they have saved six lives every minute over the last five decades.

UNICEF’s Chief, Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, said this at a virtual media dialogue with journalists in Owerri, on Saturday, to mark the year 2025 World Immunisation Week.

Speaking on this year’s theme: “Immunisation For All Is Humanly Possible”, Chiluwe described vaccines as “one of humanity’s greatest achievements”.

She called for increased advocacy, communication, social mobilisation and cold chain support to achieve routine immunisation that “would really reach everyone”.

Chiluwe also called for infrastructure strengthening such as the establishment of oxygen gas plants to strengthen health systems in states with the greater need.

“This year’s theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through inclusive and equitable Immunisation services.

“Vaccines remain and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives, that is, six lives a minute, every day, for five decades.

“UNICEF, therefore, joins efforts with health care providers and governments to promote the values of immunisation services as should, which entails getting to the last mile,” she said.

Chiluwe commended the contributions from state governments that compliment UNICEF’s efforts and urged them not to relent in their partnership.

She further urged them to build momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure that every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potentials.

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Director-General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Mr Francis Nwanbani, and UNICEF’s implementing partner, said that it was necessary to ensure that the successes of the past five decades were replicated going forward.

This, he said, would help to achieve the “humanly possible” campaign.

“ We must endeavour to reach more children with essential immunisations while developing new and newer vaccines to cover a broader range of diseases and ages,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lectures at the dialogue focused on sustainable vaccine development and immunisation strategies especially for children. (NAN)

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Malaria vaccine a success in Nigeria, says Official

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3 days ago

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April 26, 2025

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The Director of Kwara State Primary Healthcare System, Dr Michael Oguntoye, has hailed the Malaria vaccination pilot programme in two Nigerian states as a significant success.

Oguntoye made the statement on Friday during the celebration of World Malaria Day in Ilorin.

He explained that Nigeria had officially rolled out the R21 malaria vaccine, incorporating it into the country’s routine immunisation programme.

He expressed optimism that the health intervention would soon extend to other states, including Kwara.

“Malaria is now one of the diseases that is vaccine-preventable.

“We all know that malaria is one of the leading public health challenges in this region,” Oguntoye noted.

He further emphasised that the vaccine would help protect children from the disease.

The pilot programmes in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, he added, had shown significant success in saving children’s lives.(NAN)

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Maternal Mortality Has Dropped By 40% Globally —UN

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3 weeks ago

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April 8, 2025

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Natalia Kanem, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has announced a 40 per cent decline in global maternal mortality since 2000.

According to NAN, Kanem spoke at an event organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to mark this year’s World Health Day.

The 2025 campaign, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, aims to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths while enhancing women’s health.

Kanem noted that no country currently has an “extremely high” maternal mortality rate exceeding 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births.

“Globally, women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth is better than ever before,” she said, attributing the results to medical advancements, reproductive autonomy, and quality maternal care.

She noted that while more births occur in healthcare facilities, care quality varies, with poor standards causing half of maternal deaths.

“Research finds that poor-quality care causes half of maternal deaths and shortages in essential medicines, equipment and skilled personnel plague many health systems,” she added.

“Discrimination further limits access for marginalised groups, even in wealthy nations. We can and must end preventable maternal deaths. We know what works and why.”

She called on stakeholders to provide strong laws, political and financial support for positive impact.

“On this World Health Day, let us prioritise investments so that we can reach zero preventable maternal deaths,” she added.

“Let us commit to building healthier, more just societies and to ensure that all women bringing life into this world can survive childbirth and thrive afterwards.”

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