Health
Liberia, UNICEF Seek More Investments In Health, Education
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need for increased investments to improve quality education services, health care, and prevent violence against children has been emphasised by Liberia and UNICEF.
The call for action came after a joint annual review of progress in 2016, and agreement on priorities for focus in 2017.
“Liberia has made significant progress since the end of the Ebola outbreak, with health facilities functional, and many children back in school. It is essential that we increase investments in these critical areas, to ensure that Liberia builds on the progress made, and also address other critical areas to promote child and women’s rights,” says the Minister of Finance and Development Planning in the country, Boima Kamara.
“UNICEF has contributed close to US 48 million dollars in 2016 toward increasing access to services as well as to the improvement of the lives of children and women in Liberia, and the benefits are evident,” added Minister Kamara.
The Government of Liberia – UNICEF annual review meeting held on 28 November assessed the implementation of joint work plans and the key results achieved during 2016. Prior to this annual review meeting, comprehensive sectoral reviews were conducted since early November, led by the Government and UNICEF together with a wide range of development and civil society partners.
The objective of the annual review process was to assess overall progress, collaboratively strategize ways to address challenges, and prioritize interventions for 2017.
“This is an important step in our efforts to improve the lives of children and women in Liberia,” says Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, UNICEF Representative in Liberia. “Only through reflection and a thorough review of our work can we assess progress, identify shortcomings and strategize on the way forward.”
“We thank all our donor partners for their support, without which progress would not have been made. However, many challenges remain. We need to increase investments in critical areas to address post-Ebola outbreak challenges and residual issues, as well as combat the high levels of violence against children.
“The government needs to ensure that health, education and other services receive adequate funding in the annual budget, while development partners need to provide long-term predictable funding to help plan and implement projects that have long-term sustainable impact.”
Some of the key highlights of progress in 2016, include:
- The reactivation of health services, and increased access for children and women.
- Over 700,000 children and 44,000 teachers have increased access to learning and teaching through the provision of teaching/learning kits.
- Over 225,000 people have benefitted from the construction or rehabilitation of water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management systems in 9 hospitals and 4 health facilities in eight counties.
- Water, sanitation and hygiene services have been provided in 102 schools in six counties, benefiting close to 40,000 children.
- Increased trend of immunization coverage observed in 2016.
- Over 140,000 children have received birth certificates, up from 63,500 in 2015.
- Close to 145,000 most vulnerable children and young people have received quality essential social services through the deployment of social workers.
- Populations have increased access to life-saving information on immunization, handwashing, nutrition and protection.
- Ninety community peace committees have been set up to increase peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
- 300 National Volunteers were deployed at 118 public institutions in 13 counties to support sub-national service provision, especially as teachers in schools, benefitting over 45,000 pupils and community residents.
- 1,000 adolescent received life-skills training.
A number of priorities were agreed on for focus in 2017, including:
- Advocacy to increase budgeting for health, education and social services.
- Scale-up implementation of the community health assistant programme in five counties.
- Increase youth and adolescent empowerment and employment opportunities through life-skills, vocational and technical education.
- Develop and disseminate a national life skills curriculum for adolescents, and support the development of an adolescent empowerment strategy.
- Support the development of the National Plan of Action for Children.
- Increase efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender based violence.
- Increase public awareness about the importance of early childhood development, and support planned initiatives.
- Scale up learner-centred teacher training in order to improve learning outcomes.
UNICEF has been a longstanding partner of the Government of Liberia in implementing its priorities and promoting the rights and wellbeing of the children of Liberia.
On December 10, 2016 UNICEF marks 70 years of working internationally in 190 countries to bring life-saving aid, long-term support and hope to children whose lives and futures are endangered by conflict, crises, poverty, inequality and discrimination.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has launched its first nationally representative survey on antimicrobial resistance to generate critical data to guide evidence-based policies, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen health system resilience.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist treatment, making infections harder to cure.
As a result, surveillance is essential to track resistance patterns, identify priority pathogens, and guide targeted interventions and with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, the initiative marks a milestone in the country’s public health response.
Nigeria becomes the third country globally to partner with WHO on a national antimicrobial resistance survey. having been selected based on the country’s strong commitment to AMR surveillance, its updated WHO Nigeria NAP 2.0, and readiness to expand laboratory and data systems.
Africa’s most populous country ranks 20th globally for age-standardized mortality due to antimicrobial resistance . In 2019, an estimated 263,400 deaths in Nigeria were linked to it—more than the combined deaths from enteric infections, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, maternal and neonatal disorders, neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases.
Globally, resistant infections in tertiary care settings cost between $2,371 and $29,289 per patient episode, extend hospital stays by an average of 7.4 days, and increase mortality risk by 84 per cent.
The survey will see the establishment of a national baseline on antimicrobial resistance prevalence to monitor interventions, assess the distribution, burden (morbidity, mortality, DALYs, cost), and diversity of AMR across regions and populations, as well as contribute to the global target of reducing AMR deaths by 10 per cent by 2030, in line with the political declaration endorsed at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024.
It also seeks to strengthen routine antimicrobial resistance surveillance, including diagnostics, sample referral systems, and laboratory capacity.
Using WHO’s standardized methodology, the survey will run for 12–15 months and cover 40–45 randomly selected health facilities nationwide. Patients with suspected bloodstream infections (BSIs) will be identified using standard case definitions, and blood samples will be analysed in quality-assured laboratories.
Data will be collected across all age groups, covering clinical, demographic, laboratory, financial, and outcome indicators. Follow-up will occur at discharge, 28 days, and three months post-infection. The survey will sample approximately 35,000 patients suspected of BSIs to obtain around 800 isolates of the most common pathogens.
Dr Tochi Okwor, Acting Head, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said, “With WHO’s support, we are confident the survey will generate the evidence needed to protect public health.”
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment stating that ,“Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward combating AMR with an approach grounded in data, science, and measurable impact. This survey will provide the clarity needed to drive smarter policies, stronger surveillance, and better patient outcomes. Nigeria is laying the foundations for a resilient health system, one that protects lives, strengthens trust, and ensures that essential medicines remain effective for future generations.”
Adding her input, Dr Laetitia Gahimbare, Technical Officer at WHO Regional Office for Africa, added:“Strengthening surveillance enhances Nigeria’s capacity to detect and respond to AMR threats, supporting better patient outcomes, reinforcing health security, and building a resilient system.”
Professor Babatunde Ogunbosi, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, highlighted the broader impact:, “This survey is about more than data. It’s about building national capacity for research, diagnostics, and policy. It integrates science into public health decision-making.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria, SUNU Health, has said its philosophy is proactive wellness, noting that this was why it recently partnered with The Divine Physician and St. Luke Catholic Chaplaincy Centre for a community health initiative.
The chief executive of the company, Dr Patrick Korie, said, “SUNU Health’s vision extends far beyond merely offering health packages and insurance.”
“We are fundamentally interested in proactive wellness—preventing illness rather than just treating it. This annual exercise is a crucial part of that commitment, and we will continue to champion it for as long as we exist,” he stressed.
The medical practitioner led the company’s annual Health Walk in Lagos on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The event drew hundreds of health enthusiasts, including the Chaplain of the centre, Rev Fr. John Okoria SJ.
His active participation reinforced the spiritual and moral commitment to holistic well-being, proving crucial in mobilizing staff and community members, thereby ensuring the vital wellness message reached a broad and deeply engaged audience.
The health walk covered several major streets in Lagos, starting from Ishaga Road and navigating through Itire Road, Randle Avenue, Akerele, Ogunlana Drive, and Workers Street before concluding back at the starting point. Following the vigorous walk, participants engaged in a session of high-energy aerobics and other outdoor exercises, reinforcing the day’s focus on fitness.
“We are delighted to champion this vital health initiative alongside the Catholic Chaplaincy Centre LUTH/CMUL. The turnout was truly delightful, reflecting the community’s deep desire to embrace wellness.
“Collaborations like this amplify our message and commitment to the Nigerian community,” the Brand and Corporate Communications Lead at SUNU Health, Mr Samuel Olayemi, stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Coronation Registrars Limited, a subsidiary of Coronation Group, in partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC), recently hosted a Blood Drive Initiative at the 5th floor of Coronation Group Plaza. The event saw over 80 staff donate blood to support critical healthcare needs in Lagos State.
The Blood Drive Initiative forms part of Coronation’s commitment to meaningful, human-centred corporate social responsibility, a direct, measurable, and life-saving effort that reflects the Group’s health and sustainability values.
As Prosperity Partners dedicated to creating sustainable wealth for clients and the African continent, Coronation recognises that true prosperity extends beyond financial returns to encompass the well-being of communities we serve.
The company noted that this initiative enabled it to deliver immediate social impact by supporting national blood supply shortfalls through employee-driven action, demonstrate leadership in health-focused CSR aligned with ESG goals and SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being), strengthen internal culture by fostering employee engagement, empathy, and purpose in a safe, structured environment, and reinforce corporate reputation through public-facing acts of service, stakeholder trust, and media visibility.
Blood donation remains a critical need in Nigeria, where regular blood supply is essential for emergency care, surgeries, and treatment of various medical conditions. Each donation can save up to three lives, and the collective effort of Coronation employees will significantly impact patients in need across Lagos State healthcare facilities.
“This aligns seamlessly with Coronation’s broader sustainability agenda, which views healthcare access as fundamental to building prosperous communities across Africa,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
Partnering with a certified medical institution, the drive was professionally managed, medically compliant, and logistically efficient. Participants underwent necessary medical screening procedures to ensure donor fitness and safety. Following their donations, donors received refreshments and appreciation for their life-saving contribution.
“At Coronation, we believe in making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve,” said Mr Oluseyi Owoturo, Chief Executive Officer of Coronation Registrars Limited. “This Blood donation Initiative reflects our values in action, saving lives, building community, and positioning the company as a purpose-driven brand. We’re proud of our employees who stepped forward to donate blood and save lives. This is what sustainable impact looks like: tangible solutions that address real challenges facing our continent.”
The partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee ensured professional handling of the donation process, meeting all safety and quality standards for blood collection and storage.
Coronation Registrars Limited says it continues to demonstrate that corporate success goes hand-in-hand with social responsibility.
“This initiative reinforces the company’s purpose to create a prosperous future for clients and the African continent through transformational solutions,” it added.
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