Beyond boreholes: Nestlé pushes sustainable water access in Ogun, Abuja

By Admin

Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment plants in communities within the Agbara catchment of Ogun State, as part of a broader initiative to improve access to safe water and strengthen sustainable water management.

The facilities form part of the company's Water Regeneration Project, which covers the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The programme aims to deliver 24 climate-smart boreholes, comprising eight in Agbara and 16 in Abaji.

Beyond providing water infrastructure, the initiative incorporates treatment facilities, routine water quality monitoring, rainwater harvesting systems and community-based governance structures designed to ensure the facilities remain functional and provide safe water over the long term.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Olutayo Olatunji, said the project reflected the company's commitment to improving community access to water while strengthening the resilience of local water systems.

“The Agbara commissioning is an important milestone within our wider Water Regeneration Project and reflects Nestlé’s commitment to helping regenerate local water cycles,” Olatunji said.

He added that combining treated water infrastructure with community governance and performance monitoring would help improve access, strengthen watershed resilience and deliver lasting benefits.

“As we finalise the remaining scope, our focus remains on rigorous delivery and measurable outcomes that benefit communities and support business continuity,” he said.

The project also places emphasis on the sustainability of the facilities, with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees and governance training intended to establish clear responsibilities for routine maintenance, fault reporting and water quality checks.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said the long-term success of water projects depended not only on their commissioning but also on their continued ability to provide safe and reliable services.

“Commissioning a facility is only the beginning; ensuring that it continues to provide safe, reliable and sustainable service is the true measure of success,” Utsev noted.

He welcomed the project's emphasis on governance and water stewardship, particularly the development of a governance training manual to guide water regeneration and responsible management.

Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the initiative as an example of the benefits of collaboration between the private sector, government institutions, regulators and host communities.

“This project demonstrates what strategic public-private collaboration can achieve,” Lawal said, adding that the initiative supported Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation and aligned with Nigeria's environmental priorities.

For the host community, the commissioning represents an opportunity to improve access to a resource essential to public health and household wellbeing.

The Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, who welcomed the project on behalf of the community, urged residents and traditional leaders to take responsibility for protecting the facilities.

“Safe water touches every part of our lives: the health of our children, the dignity of our homes and the hopes of our families. Today, it has come closer to all of us.“As custodians of this land, I charge our chiefs, Baales, WASH committees and every resident to treat these facilities as our own, guard them against misuse and report faults promptly ,” the monarch said.

He, however, warned that the benefits would depend on the community's willingness to protect the infrastructure, prevent misuse and report faults promptly.

Beyond infrastructure, Nestlé Nigeria said it was also working to improve public understanding of water safety through the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Organisation for the Promotion of Environmental Sanitation and Water Sanitation (OPS-WASH).

The company's Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Victoria Uwadoka, said access to water must be accompanied by measures to ensure its safety and responsible use.

“Access alone is not enough. Water must be safe, it must be protected, and communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly,” Uwadoka said.

The advocacy programme is intended to extend water safety awareness beyond project sites to households, schools, communities and public institutions.

Nestlé Nigeria said the Agbara commissioning was made possible through collaboration involving public authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.

With the remaining facilities in Abaji expected to be completed and handed over, the company said it would focus on delivery, transparent validation and community ownership to sustain the project's benefits.

The initiative is also intended to strengthen watershed resilience and support the company's long-term water management and business continuity objectives.

Experimental cancer pill that targets DNA of tumour cells debuts

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Scientists are testing an experimental cancer drug designed to exploit a weakness in cancer cells, raising hopes for a new approach to treating the disease, although its safety and effectiveness in humans remain unproven.

The drug, AOH1996, developed by researchers at City of Hope, a US cancer research and treatment organisation, targets a protein known as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which plays a critical role in DNA replication and repair.

By interfering with this process, the drug aims to disrupt cancer cells’ ability to copy their DNA and multiply, potentially slowing or stopping tumour growth.

In laboratory experiments, AOH1996 demonstrated activity against more than 70 types of cancer cells, while causing less harm to the healthy cells tested, according to research published in Cell Chemical Biology in 2023.

The researchers also evaluated the drug in animal studies before advancing it to early human testing.

As of October 2026, AOH1996 remains an experimental drug under Phase 1 clinical investigation. The US National Cancer Institute lists clinical trials examining its use in patients with advanced solid tumours and certain blood cancers.

These early-stage studies are designed primarily to assess the drug’s safety, side effects and appropriate dosage, while also looking for preliminary evidence that it can benefit patients. They are not intended to establish definitive proof of effectiveness.

The research is significant because cancer cells depend on DNA replication to sustain their rapid growth. Targeting the machinery involved in this process could provide a different way to attack tumours, including cancers that respond poorly to existing treatments.

However, promising laboratory findings do not guarantee that a drug will work safely or effectively in people. AOH1996 must undergo further testing to establish whether its potential benefits outweigh its risks and whether it can improve outcomes for cancer patients.

The findings offer a possible new direction in cancer drug development, but AOH1996 is not an approved or established cancer treatment. Its ultimate value will depend on the results of ongoing clinical trials and subsequent research.

The study, led by scientists at City of Hope, was published in Cell Chemical Biology in 2023 under the title “AOH1996: A small molecule targeting cancer-associated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).”

Pistis Foundation’s free medical outreach records 58,394 interventions since 2019

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The Pistis Foundation’s flagship medical and surgical outreach, UBOMI, has recorded 58,394 medical interventions and reached more than 22,811 beneficiaries since 2019, providing free healthcare to people who might otherwise struggle to afford treatment.

The programme was established to address barriers to essential healthcare in underserved communities, bringing together healthcare professionals, technical partners and volunteers to make medical attention and treatment more accessible.

Its September 2026 outreach in Ibadan recorded 10,292 medical interventions and reached 3,611 beneficiaries over five days, from September 21 to 25.

The exercise offered consultations, laboratory screening, pharmacy services, eye and dental care, as well as surgical procedures. The Foundation said the results formed part of UBOMI’s broader effort to expand access to healthcare beyond Lagos and reduce the financial burden that often prevents people from seeking timely medical attention.

Meanwhile, the Lagos edition, which began on October 19, is ongoing and will end on Friday, October 23, 2026. The five day outreach is taking place at Pistis Annex, No. 3 Remi Olowude Street, Marwa Bus Stop, Lekki, Eti-Osa, Lagos.

The Lagos programme provides consultations, diagnostic investigations, eye and dental care, surgery and prescribed medication, subject to clinical assessment and service availability. All services are free to beneficiaries.

According to the Foundation, UBOMI’s impact extends beyond the number of procedures performed, particularly for people whose conditions have gone untreated because of the cost of healthcare. Timely access to diagnosis and treatment can improve health outcomes, independence and quality of life.

The Foundation attributed the programme’s continued delivery to collaboration among healthcare professionals, technical partners, volunteers, donors and other supporters.

Pistis Foundation is the social impact arm of The Elevation Church. Its work spans healthcare, education, child protection and empowerment through initiatives including Adopt-A-Pistis-Scholar, which supports educational opportunities for children, and Kids-Off-The-Street, which focuses on protecting and empowering vulnerable children.

Pastor Godman Akinlabi, Founder and Global Lead Pastor of The Elevation Church, founded Pistis Foundation and serves as chairman of its board.

Through UBOMI, the Foundation continues to work towards reducing financial barriers to essential healthcare and extending access to underserved communities.

Uganda seeks details of Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case

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Uganda has asked Nigeria to provide detailed travel and clinical records of a woman confirmed to have the Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, following Nigeria’s confirmation of the infection.

Nigeria confirmed the Ebola case on Tuesday, after laboratory testing of the index case, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria after travelling from Uganda, and currently is receiving medical care in isolation.

In a statement, Prof. Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, Uganda Ministry of Health, said the information was required to guide further investigations and determine whether additional contact tracing was necessary, even as he stressed that the woman’s transit through Uganda did not establish that she contracted the virus there.

The statement, issued in Kampala, said the Ministry of Health was awaiting further information from the Nigerian government to help establish the circumstances surrounding the infection, stating that it would strengthen screening and other public health measures at points of entry in collaboration with relevant agencies.

Preliminary information cited by the Ugandan authorities revealed that the woman, who travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for business, transited through Uganda in early October without showing symptoms, but reportedly developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria, as the location where she contracted the virus remains under investigation.

The statement titled “Reported Ebola Case in Nigeria: Ministry Calls for Calm and Vigilance” reads in part: “The Ministry of Health has noted reports of a confirmed Ebola case in Nigeria involving a Nigerian woman who reportedly travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for business.

“Preliminary information indicates that she transited through Uganda in early October without showing symptoms and developed symptoms after arriving in Nigeria. Her transit through Uganda does not establish that she contracted the infection there. The location of exposure remains under investigation.

“The Government of Nigeria is yet to provide detailed information on the woman's travel itinerary and clinical history to guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.

“The Ministry wishes to clarify that, as of the date of this statement, Uganda has no confirmed active Ebola cases.”

It said limited provisions had been maintained to facilitate humanitarian and diplomatic movements. The Ministry, working with relevant agencies, will further strengthen screening and public health measures at points of entry.

Ebola: Be wary of handshakes, hugs, Academy of Medical Sciences cautions

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The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria has urged Nigerians to be wary of handshakes, hugs and other unnecessary physical contact and to adopt non-contact greetings instead as 

part of the immediate nationwide high alert response to the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In a public health advisory issued on Tuesday, the Academy  endorsed the Federal Government’s response to the confirmed case involving a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda, the Academy commended the prompt isolation of the patient, commencement of contact tracing and intensified surveillance.

Noting that the measure was  an additional precaution members of the public were urged to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick persons and refrain from handling the bodies of people suspected to have died from Ebola.

The advisory, jointly signed by the Academy’s President, Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie; Foundation President, Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru; and Rapid Response Committee member, Professor Boaz Adegboro, urged the federal government to extend heightened preparedness measures across the country, drawing on Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the statement, the experts called for enhanced screening at airports, seaports and land borders, particularly for travellers arriving from countries affected by Ebola, as well as the activation of isolation and treatment centres across states.

They stressed the need for strict infection prevention and control measures in public and private health facilities, adequate personal protective equipment for health workers and rigorous monitoring of identified contacts.

Urging healthcare professionals to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly isolate anyone suspected of having Ebola and immediately report such cases to public health authorities, The Academy identified fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea as symptoms requiring attention, particularly in people who may have been exposed to the virus, they advised anyone who suspects exposure or develops symptoms to contact public health authorities before visiting a health facility, to reduce the risk of exposing others.

Addressing public concerns about transmission of the Ebola virus, the Academy explained that Ebola is not an airborne disease, saying it spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, a person who has died from the disease, or materials contaminated with such fluids, noting that an infected person cannot transmit Ebola before symptoms begin.

Further, the advisory called for full cooperation with contact-tracing teams and warned against spreading rumours or stigmatising suspected cases, urging Nigerians to rely on information from official health authorities.

It directed the public to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s toll-free number, 6232, which is available round the clock

Ebola case: Nigeria activates emergency response in FCT, tracks 44 contacts

By Admin 

The Federal Government has activated emergency public health measures, launched contact tracing for 44 people and intensified disease surveillance after confirming an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday.

The response, led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), includes isolating the case, strengthening infection control, and tracking people who may have been exposed to the virus.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the case on Tuesday following laboratory confirmation.

In a statement, Pate said the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, had spent several days receiving treatment at a private hospital in the FCT before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

He said health authorities have commenced contact tracing to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the infection, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following laboratory confirmation today, 20 October 2026.

“The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.

“The Federal Minister of Health and Social Welfare and NCDC are working closely with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further spread.

“Contact tracing has commenced with 44 close contacts identified presently, with public health teams identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts. Surveillance has been intensified, and the hospital is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

“The FG calls on all public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to be on high alert. Healthcare workers must maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control measures, and immediately report suspected cases to public health authorities.”

Noting that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick with the disease or has died from it, or through contact with contaminated materials, the statement said a person with Ebola cannot spread the disease before symptoms begin.

Pate urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert, maintain a high index of suspicion and promptly isolate and report suspected cases. He also called on healthcare workers to observe strict infection prevention and control measures.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or someone who has died from the disease. Transmission can also occur through contact with contaminated materials.

According to the minister, infected people cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin. However, the public has been advised to watch for symptoms, including fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure.

“We advise everyone to remain calm but vigilant. There is no need for panic. Practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected to have Ebola.

“Watch for symptoms, including fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly following possible exposure.

“Report any possible exposure immediately, even if you feel well. If you develop symptoms, avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.

“Anyone who suspects exposure has been urged to report immediately, even without symptoms. Those who develop symptoms should avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” the statement stressed.

The government also urged people identified during contact tracing, including relevant airline passengers, to cooperate with health officials and follow public health advice.

Reassuring Nigerians, Pate said the country had successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and had the experience and public health systems needed to respond to the current case. However, he stressed that containing the infection would require public cooperation, early detection and prompt reporting.

He cautioned against spreading rumours or stigmatising affected persons, urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from official health authorities.

The Federal Government said investigations were ongoing and that further updates would be provided through the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.

“We urge Nigerians to remain calm, stay vigilant and cooperate with public health authorities. Early detection, prompt reporting and everyone's cooperation are critical to preventing further spread.”

“The Federal Government, FCT authorities and other partners are working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public. Investigations are ongoing, and we will continue to provide accurate and timely information.

“The Government of Nigeria through the Presidential Taskforce on EVD and NCDC will continue to provide updates. NCDC free call centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For information or to report a suspected case, please call NCDC toll-free number 6232.

LASHMA, Zamba bag Presidency GOVTECH Awards 2026

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The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, have been honoured with top national accolades at the Nigeria GOVTECH Public Service Awards 2026, organized by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), The Presidency.

During a ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, LASHMA was named the Best State MDA in Digital Health Service Delivery (2026), while Dr. Zamba received the GOVTECH Trailblazer’s Award for exemplary leadership, technological adoption, and public sector institutional transformation.

Presenting the honours to Dr. Zamba and LASHMA’s Head of Business Development, Mr. Olatunji Rotimi, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended the agency for pioneering digital solutions within Nigeria's social health insurance landscape.

Mr. Arabi revealed that LASHMA emerged victorious following a rigorous nationwide nomination process and an independent comparative review. He highlighted the agency's fully digitized infrastructure—ranging from enrollment and payments to regulatory systems—noting that corporate organizations can now seamlessly apply and pay for their Corporate Identification Number online.

He noted that LASHMA’s unified digital database currently supports nearly two million ILERA EKO enrollees, including over 200,000 self-registrations. With more than 800 healthcare providers digitally linked to the agency, LASHMA efficiently processes approximately 80,000 pre-authorizations and claims every month.

The Director-General further praised the agency's expanded digital ecosystem, citing its Telemedicine platform, Virtual Health Booths, integrated Customer Relationship Management system, digital vulnerability assessments, and the ILERA EKO Spotlight Online Radio initiative for driving public awareness and health insurance coverage.

Arabi urged LASHMA to maintain its momentum toward achieving Universal Health Coverage in Lagos State, reminding the leadership that the reward for hard work is more work.

Receiving the awards, Zamba expressed gratitude to the Presidency and BPSR for recognizing LASHMA's commitment to delivering affordable, equitable, and quality healthcare to Lagos residents. She reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to accelerate enrollment under the ILERA EKO scheme, eliminate out-of-pocket medical expenses, and safeguard households from catastrophic health spending.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (The Presidency) Award is the fourth Award received by LASHMA in 2026 reinforcing its standing as a national benchmark for digital governance and public health administration.