Health
Nigerians should expect COVID-19 vaccines by January – Ehanire
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has said the country expects to receive the first batch of vaccines meant to combat COVID-19 by January.
He said this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council FEC meeting.
Ehanire further disclosed that the country was looking to get the vaccines from more than just one source, adding that the Ministry of Health had already commenced bilateral talks with manufacturing companies and countries that have developed solutions.
He, however, said storage of some types of vaccines and cost of storage were factors being considered in shopping for the products.
The minister said, “We have a technical working group working on the question of the vaccine. We have signed up with the World Health Organisation and GAVI for access to vaccines immediately they are available. But you know that these vaccines are new and the producers are, first of all, not giving any indemnity.
“The big countries where these vaccines are manufactured are of course giving themselves the priority to serve their own citizens first and we hope that the pressure from the World Health Organisation and GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) will be able to get a reserve for other countries which themselves are not manufacturing and be able to attend to what we signed up to; we signed up for the advanced market participation of the COVACS.
“If we are able to get our own, I think it should be by January, but there are two types of vaccines, as you have heard; there are those that haven to be in ultra-deep freezers, the MRNA types of vaccines, freezers that must give you at least -80 degrees. There’s another type that can be in a deep freezer of -20 and there’s another type that can be in a refrigerator of -2 degrees, which is regular refrigerator.”
He also said, “The one that is a regular refrigerator is easy in that you have many of that kind of refrigerators all over our country. -20 will also be easy because we have freezers, but the ultra-cold freezers we hardly have any in our country, therefore to receive and store those ultra-cold vaccines will require that we go purchase those ultra-cold freezers.
“So we are working on the costing and it might be which one we get first. We have to remember again that we have over 200 million citizens and finding a way to get enough to take care of our citizens. That means if we are able to get the vaccine that works well and does not cost us too much or cost of storage and delivery, that’s the one we’ll like.
“We are also having bilateral discussions, talking with manufacturers, some of them have written to us that they want to have talks with us, I think one is already having discussions in the Ministry of Health, the one that British and Russia team are putting together.”
He said the FG was working with them “because if we cannot get enough from one source, we should be able to get from other sources. So, we are looking at multiple sources. We had a conversation with United Arab Emirates. The ambassador came to see us and told us that they are buying vaccines from China and had tested them.
“So, they said they are introducing them to us. So, we said we would listen to them because the one that is effective and healthy in those countries and is available is the one we shall bring and that has also proven to be safe.”
Health
China Unveils Blink-Powered Device to Aid Paralysed Patients’ Mobility
China Unveils Blink-Powered Device to Aid Paralysed Patients’ Mobility
Chinese researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking blink-powered eye-tracking device designed to help paralysed patients regain control over wheelchairs and assistive devices. The innovation captures energy generated by blinking to operate devices, offering new independence for individuals with ALS, spinal injuries, and severe mobility impairments.
The device, named ET‑TENG, uses a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to convert eyelid movements into electrical signals, allowing users to navigate wheelchairs or communicate with technology without external batteries. Unlike traditional camera-based eye-tracking systems, ET‑TENG functions even in total darkness, making it more reliable for daily use.
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Developed through collaboration between Qingdao University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, ET‑TENG demonstrated 99% accuracy in detecting eye movements as small as 2 degrees, ensuring precise control for patients. Experts say this technology could significantly improve quality of life and autonomy for people living with paralysis.
This innovation is part of a growing wave of assistive technologies and brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in China and globally, aimed at translating neuroscience breakthroughs into practical tools for patients with severe disabilities. Researchers hope ET‑TENG and similar devices will soon allow users to communicate, move independently, and interact with the world in ways that were previously impossible.
China Unveils Blink-Powered Device to Aid Paralysed Patients’ Mobility
Health
Father Blames Lagos Health Centre After Twin Infants Die Following Immunisation
Father Blames Lagos Health Centre After Twin Infants Die Following Immunisation
A grieving father has accused a Lagos health centre of negligence following the death of his nine-month-old twin boys, who reportedly died hours after receiving routine vaccination at a government-owned facility in the state.
The father, Samuel Alozie, said he took the twins to the Ajangbadi Primary Health Centre in Ojo Local Government Area for their scheduled immunisation. According to him, the babies were healthy and active before the visit but developed severe reactions shortly after the injections.
He alleged that the twins became unusually weak, stopped feeding properly and failed to respond to treatment given at home based on advice from health workers. Tragically, both children reportedly died within 24 hours of receiving the vaccines.
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The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage on social media, has raised fresh concerns about vaccine safety, medical negligence, and standards of care at public health facilities in Lagos State. In emotional online videos, the father questioned the drugs administered to his children and called for a transparent investigation, insisting that the deaths were preventable.
Reacting to public pressure, the Lagos State Government ordered a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Officials said the autopsy would establish whether the fatalities were linked to the vaccination, medical error, or other underlying health conditions.
Health authorities have urged the public to remain calm while investigations continue, noting that routine childhood immunisation remains safe and critical in preventing deadly diseases. However, rights groups and concerned parents are demanding accountability, insisting that any form of medical malpractice uncovered must be prosecuted.
The tragic deaths have reignited national debate on healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly in primary health centres, with many Nigerians calling for better training, monitoring and equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Father Blames Lagos Health Centre After Twin Infants Die Following Immunisation
Health
NAFDAC Reassures Nigerians as Nestlé Recalls SMA Infant Formula in 50 Countries
NAFDAC Reassures Nigerians as Nestlé Recalls SMA Infant Formula in 50 Countries
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reassured Nigerians that Nestlé infant formula products approved for sale in Nigeria are safe, following public concern over a voluntary global recall of SMA Infant Formula in more than 50 countries.
In a statement issued by the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency clarified that the recall by Nestlé UK was limited to specific batches overseas and does not affect products available in the Nigerian market.
According to NAFDAC, the recall was prompted by the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting, in some UK-manufactured batches. Cereulide is described as a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
“The Agency wishes to reassure the public, healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders, particularly parents, guardians and caregivers, that all Nestlé infant formulae currently approved for marketing in Nigeria are safe for consumption and are not part of the recall,” the statement said.
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NAFDAC explained that the SMA infant formula sold in Nigeria is manufactured at the Nestlé Tuas Factory in Singapore and is fully registered and approved by the agency. It further confirmed that both the SMA and NAN ranges produced for the Nigerian market are not among the affected batches involved in the voluntary recall abroad.
The agency noted that the public advisory was issued purely as a precautionary public health measure, in line with NAFDAC’s mandate to keep Nigerians informed of global food safety developments, even where the risk of local exposure is low.
However, NAFDAC warned that potential risks could still arise through unauthorised importation, online purchases, or personal carriage of recalled products during international travel.
The agency assured Nigerians that it remains vigilant and committed to ensuring the safety of food and pharmaceutical products in Nigeria, while continuing to monitor global developments related to infant nutrition and food safety.
NAFDAC Reassures Nigerians as Nestlé Recalls SMA Infant Formula in 50 Countries
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