As part of efforts to check cases of river blindness or onchocerciasis in parts of Nigeria , over 19million Nigerians infected or at the risk of infection by the disease have been availed professional treatment and drugs in the last 12 years to arrest the spread of the tropical disease in the country.

The quest to achive Millenuim Developlment Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 which borders more on reduction of maternal and infant mortality, especially newborns is gaining ground with Nollywood stars getting involved for first time.

RESIDENT doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, have condemned alleged moves by the Ministry of Health to privatise some key hospitals at the nation’s seat of power.

The race to end polio in Nigeria is on, there is no going back, and the resources are there. We cannot afford to fail because it will undermine efforts made so far to get where we are today in the fight against polio. It is possible to achieve this great goal.”

With another medical doctors’ strike looming, a sense of unease has enveloped the nation’s already fragile health sector. The indication to this development is coming on the heels of series of warning strikes witnessed lately at various teaching hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and specialist hospitals across the nation.

DEPUTY President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm Olumide Akintayo does not mince words when it comes to issues of professional relevance as they concern the nation’s health industry. In this interview with Olayinka Latona, he gives the position of the PSN on the fortunes of the sector, with regards to the strike threat by doctors. Excerpts.

WHEN Aina Tomilola put to bed at 1.55 AM on February 27, 2010, it was a celebration of firsts. The baby girl born to the 31-year-old school teacher was her first child, and she was the first woman to ever give birth at the newly built Maternal and Child Hospital (MCH), Oke Aro, Akure, Ondo State.

THE expectation of a well regulated fertility treatment industry that caters for the wellbeing of Nigerians may not come to pass in the country in the near future, except the apparent lack of political will and commitment to the issue is adequately tackled by those concerned.

JOSEPH and Joy Oha were so eager to have their first baby shortly after they got married nine months ago. When Joy took in, two months after their traditional engagement, it was all smiles. The love, which they had became more strong as every moment they spent together radiated joy, love and happiness.

The latest innovation amongst State governments in the country appears to be hinged on improvement of maternal and child health in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5.

Scientists in the United States of America are set to develop an HIV vaccine made of the virus itself.

Under its ‘Support for Health’ CSR framework, Guaranty Trust Bank in recent times has been supporting Autism related interventions and initiatives in Nigeria.

Although child abuse occurs in Nigeria, it has received little attention. This is probably due to the general assumption that in every African society the extended family system always provides love, care and protection to all children. However, the above reason has contributed to the issue of child abuse in the country.

NIGERIA and other African countries have been called upon to adopt the Universal Access approach in implementing strategies to manage the HIV & AIDS challenge.

Disharmony among health professionals in terms hierarchy, who gets the highest pay including the responsibility of drug prescription and dispensing has been order of day within the health sector in recent times. Shortly after his inauguration as National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm Okwor Azubike sheds light on these and other issues. He speaks to Chioma Obinna. Excerpts: