In a fresh wave of panic, Nigeria’s Federal Government has raised a national alert over the newly discovered XEC COVID-19 variant, which has rapidly spread to 29 countries since its first detection in Australia.
The Federal Ministry of Health has urged immediate action to activate heightened surveillance and monitoring systems across hospitals nationwide.
The XEC strain, with its potential to outpace other circulating variants, has sparked widespread concern over its impact on public health. As health authorities scramble to respond, the nation braces for another chapter in the ongoing battle against COVID-19.
According to a letter dated December 5, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the variant, initially identified in Australia, has now been confirmed in 29 countries.
The letter, signed by Dr. O.N. Anuma, the Permanent Secretary and Head of the Teaching Hospital Division, urged health authorities in Nigeria to activate heightened alert systems across hospitals. Medical professionals are advised to maintain a high level of suspicion for COVID-like symptoms in patients and take immediate action for detection and containment. The XEC variant is of particular concern due to its growth advantage over other circulating strains, which raises public health alarms.
The directive stresses the importance of collaboration and timely information-sharing among health institutions and the Ministry to ensure an effective national response to the new variant.
This development has caused a wave of panic across the country, as it highlights the continuing evolution of the COVID-19 virus.

In a groundbreaking move to reshape Sokoto State’s healthcare sector, the State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Asabe Balarabe on Friday, convened a high-level annual Oversight Committee meeting with key stakeholders.

The stakeholders were drawn from SOCHEMA, Primary Health Care, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Emergency Response Team.
The meeting, which was centered on improving the state’s healthcare delivery, focused on critical areas such as updates on the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, financial reports and fund utilization, and the assessment of health initiatives’ impact.
Hon. Balarabe outlined the key objectives of the meeting to include reviewing operational achievements and challenges in SOCHEMA, evaluating the status of Primary Health Care gateway implementation, and discussing NCDC’s disease surveillance and control measures.
The Emergency Response Team’s preparedness and interventions were also discussed as part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare response in the state.

“We must be bold and collaborative in addressing the challenges within each gateway,” the Commissioner emphasized. “Our collective decisions today will have a direct and lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of Sokoto State’s citizens, as outlined by Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto.”
According to her, the meeting’s agenda was designed to encourage open dialogue and collaboration, with each gateway providing a detailed account of their specific challenges.
“The goal was to identify practical solutions and actionable resolutions for the implementation of necessary reforms and improvements in the healthcare sector.
In her closing remarks, Hon. Balarabe pledged to submit a comprehensive report of the meeting’s discussions and resolutions to Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto for further consideration.
She also took a moment to commend the governor for his steadfast dedication to the health sector, which has resulted in significant strides in revitalizing healthcare services across the state.

This critical meeting represented a significant step toward strengthening Sokoto State’s healthcare system, ensuring that it meets the growing needs of its population and providing the foundation for a healthier future for all residents.

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) has urged government at all levels to ensure the enrollment of People Living with HIV/AIDS in health insurance scheme.

The IHVN Regional Manager, Federal Capital Territory, Dr Tangkat Holse at the flag-off of the 2024 World AIDS Day (WAD) Campaign, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the event organised by the IHVN FCT Region, in collaboration with the FCT Health Management, was “Take The Right Path: Sustain The HIV Response and Stop HIV among Children to End AIDS.”

Holse also urged government and stakeholders to sustain efforts targeted at reducing the prevalence and spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

He said that globally the spread of HIV/AIDs had been reduced and the interventions to further reduce the spread especially among children were ongoing.

He added that based on validated data from that Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria had been reduced from over seven per cent to about 1.4 per cent as at 2018.

“I want to appreciate the government of Nigeria for overseeing this control.

‘’We also want to urge the government to ensure that we sustain the gains that we have recorded around the control of HIV/AIDS.

“Also to ensure that adequately, people living with HIV are enrolled into the healthcare system. This will provide additional services at very low cost.

“For all the Nigerians, as we have mentioned, it is important to continuously provide support for relations who are positive or living with HIV/AIDS.

“We should also continuously ensure that we create awareness on HIV/AIDS around our environment,’’ he said.

Holse also urged Nigerians to adhere to lifestyles that help to prevent the spread of the disease.

“The strategies around HIV-AIDS control are well known by almost all of us. First, it is to understand the fact that HIV is a disease that can be controlled by taking the first decision of knowing one status.

“After knowing the status, if you are positive, you adequately access care. If you negative, you continue with the ways of life that will ensure that you remain negative,’’ he said.

Speaking on the importance of WAD, Holse said it was to create the necessary awareness on the disease and increase the quality of live for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Holse noted that interventions were ongoing to further reduce the prevalence of the disease among children below the age of ten.

“This coincides with the theme of the year where we are looking at controlling HIV spread among students. The disease can be controlled.

“So, today is also very significant to improve the quality of lives of people living with HIV/AIDs’’ he said.

Dr Dan Gadzama the acting Director, Public Health Department, Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the FCT, assured residents that the government of FCT through the Social Services Secretariat, particularly public health department was committed to ensuring that FCT remains HIV free.

Gadzama said that the social impact of HIV was quite enormous; as it affects personal lives, families and economy wellbeing of the country.

He said that the FCT had strengthen its Preventing Mother to Child Transmission through effective innovation with health and non-health sector.

“This year’s theme is very apt as we are looking at doing the right thing to ensure that children are HIV free.

“We have over 300 HIV delivery services point across the public and private sector and all HIV tests are free, ” Gadzama said.

He added that those who HIV positive also have access free Anti-Retroviral Treatment, urging residents to take advantage of the innovation to access the various services.

Meanwhile, Dr Ugochi Ajaew, an ART Clinician with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation restated the commitment of the organisation to effective responses to HIV matters.

The event attracted stakeholders such as Youth Rise (ARFH), International Research Centre for Excellence and other stakeholders.

Highlights  of the event include HIV/AIDS awareness campaign road walk from the Government Secondary School in Garki to  the Old Parade Ground, distribution of sewing and granting machines to some indigents and vulnerable women in FCT, as well as conduct of free HIV testing services.