Nigeria: From 'Stalled' to 'Transiting' - Activating Nigeria's Demographic Dividend

Every year, at the National Council on Health (NCH), health leaders across Nigeria congregate to deliberate and approve policies aimed at improving the health of all Nigerians. The… Read more »

Nigeria: Looking Ahead in 2023 - Rekindling Hope in Nigeria's Health Sector

The start of a new year comes with fresh expectations, hopes, and dreams. In 2018, Nigeria Health Watch hosted its inaugural Future of Health Conference with the theme "Defining… Read more »

Nigeria: Reflecting On Nigeria's Health Sector in 2022 - Hope for 2023?

The resilience of the health sector was tested when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted global economies and health sectors simultaneously in 2020. Routine health programmes in Nigeria,… Read more »

Nigeria: Jela's Development Initiatives - Promoting Inclusiveness in Mental Health Interventions

The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly states that complete emotional and mental well-being are critical components of good health care. Efforts to improve access to mental… Read more »

Nigeria: Family Planning Offers a Pathway to Universal Health Coverage but Will Nigeria Take It?

The recent International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) saw Thailand host up to 3,500 reproductive health and family planning experts and advocates in Pattaya City, Thailand.… Read more »

Cameroon: Made in Cameroon - the Locally Fabricated Incubator Designed to Give Pre-Term Babies a Fighting Chance

Two years ago, Stella Kimbi lost her first baby. "At 28 weeks of my pregnancy, I started bleeding and was taken to the hospital. I delivered a small baby and was told the baby had… Read more »

Nigeria: Waiting in Hope - Alice's Cervical Cancer Story

It has been 10 months since 44-year-old Alice Akin* received a cervical cancer diagnosis. "Will the pain ever go away? It is better to die than to live like this, the pain is too… Read more »

Nigeria: For the Love of Children - Providing Low Cost Fortified Meals for Children in Kontagora Hospital

On the last day of October 2022, four women from conflict-affected communities in Niger State arrived at Kontagora General Hospital. They were all carrying children who appeared to… Read more »

Nigeria: Expanding Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Rights to Vulnerable Populations

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) underpins the rights women and girls have to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. However, women and… Read more »

Nigeria: The Volunteer Traditional Birth Attendant Plugging the Healthcare Gap for Women in Durumi IDP Camp

It is mid-morning on a Wednesday and Liliatu Ayuba is on her way back to the camp clinic after a short break. She is well respected in the Durumi Internally Displaced Person's… Read more »

Nigeria: World AIDS Day 2022 - End AIDS. Equalize

Every first of December, the world unites to commemorate World AIDS Day, showing support for people living with HIV and remembering those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.… Read more »

Nigeria: Doctors for Change - From a WhatsApp Group to a Movement

It can be quite devastating when your doctor tells you that the specialist care you urgently need is not available in Nigeria. I have been there before, so I know what it feels… Read more »

Kenya: Solar Powered Freezers - a Low Cost but High Impact Strategy Making Critical Vaccines Accessible in Southeast Kenya

Kamboo, Yindalani and Yiuma Mavui are a set of hard-to-reach villages located 17 and 28 kilometres away from Makindu sub-county hospital and 10 and 22 kilometres away from the… Read more »

Nigeria: Haiyuwa Lafiya - Preventing Maternal Mortality in Jigawa State One Trip At a Time

Hadiza Haladu's first pregnancy almost ended in a double tragedy when she went into early labour. The closest health centre was 16 kilometres - about 30 minutes to one hour - away;… Read more »

Nigeria: Development Partners, CSOs, Media Seek Legislative Intervention for Increased Public Investment in the Health Sector in 2023

Nigeria's health sector has been fraught with suboptimal public investment to sustain its development and achievement of key development objectives such as Universal Health… Read more »

Nigeria: Danbare Community Seeks the Opening of a 'Newly-Built' Primary Health Centre

Danbare community has a well-constructed Primary Health Center (PHC) however, community members have not been able to access the facility as it has remained closed since… Read more »

Nigeria: When Floods Threaten Nigeria's Food Security Everyone Suffers

Media reports have been filled with reports of flooding in several states in Nigeria in the last few months. Thousands of hectares of farmland has been destroyed by floodwater, and… Read more »

Uganda: The SASA Initiative - Changing Mindsets About Female Genital Mutilation in Kween District in Uganda

Born and raised in Atari Village, Kaptoyoy sub-county, in the Kween district of eastern Uganda, 23-year-old Mercy Chebet was married off at the tender age of 14 and had her first… Read more »

Nigeria: From Curative to Preventive - Tackling the Cardiovascular Disease Burden in Nsukka

Anyone watching 23-year-old Okenyi Collins as he went about his business at the Heart Disease Prevention and Training Centre (HDPTC) Nsukka, might have mistaken him for a caregiver… Read more »

Nigeria: World Polio Day 2022 - Is Polio Becoming a Wicked Problem?

Nigeria was declared wild poliovirus free on the 25th August 2020. The news was met with a lot of celebration. The long-fought battle towards a wild polio free status had been won… Read more »

Nigeria: Expanding PHC Funding Frontiers - Key Takeaways From the 2022 PHC Financing Forum

From the 'Re-imagining Primary Health Care' summit in April 2022 to the commitment made by the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) -- in August of the same year to increase funding for… Read more »

Nigeria: The Political Economy Of Health - Making The Political Choice To Invest In The Future Of Nigeria

Nigeria's political aspirants have officially started their election campaigns for the 2023 Presidential elections. There is no better time than now, during this political… Read more »

Nigeria: NiCare and the BHCPF Give Edokota PHC a New Look

After years of wear and tear, the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Edokota, a farming community in Gbako Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State was renovated in 2022 with funds… Read more »

Nigeria: Listening and Learning About Reproductive Health Through Storytelling With the Indi-Genius Podcast

As is the case in any other country, adolescents in Nigeria experience different sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges, including, access to quality and age-appropriate… Read more »

Nigeria: Handle Your Heart With Care - Curbing the Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria

We got to Zenith Medical & Kidney Centre at 6:50am, and already, the place was beginning to fill up. Thankfully, we were early enough for my father to get connected to a… Read more »