LASG LAUNCHES FREE HEALTHCARE OUTREACH PROGRAM.

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The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwakemi Ogunyemi, has officially launched an eight-day free healthcare outreach sponsored by Chief Razak Okoya, Chairman of Eleganza Group of Companies, as part of activities marking his 86th birthday.
The outreach, which is expected to reach hundreds of residents daily, is being coordinated with technical support from Lagos State Health District III to ensure all medical services adhere to approved clinical standards and align with the state’s people-centred healthcare agenda.
At the flag-off ceremony, Dr. Ogunyemi praised Okoya for demonstrating how philanthropy can be effectively integrated with government initiatives to achieve tangible health outcomes. She reiterated the state government’s commitment to sustaining impactful public–private partnerships that expand access to quality healthcare and encourage early detection of diseases.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District III, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke, described the initiative as a timely intervention that complements government efforts.
“This initiative goes beyond celebration; it is a practical example of how private sector support can strengthen public healthcare delivery and save lives,” Adeleke said.
The outreach is designed to provide comprehensive medical screenings and treatment, beginning with checks for blood pressure and blood sugar, Hepatitis B testing, and urinalysis, followed by consultations with doctors and referrals when necessary.
Key services offered include HIV testing and counselling in collaboration with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, dental care, eye screenings with free corrective glasses, breast and cervical cancer screenings, general medical consultations, health education, and follow-up care referrals within government health facilities.
Adeleke also commended Chief Okoya for providing ₦10,000 cash support to beneficiaries of the outreach, further enhancing the initiative’s impact on the community.

POLICE DISMANTLE CHILD TRAFFICKING RING IN ANAMBRA, RESCUE 33 UNDERAGE GIRLS.

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The Anambra State Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating from a residential compound in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area, rescuing at least 33 underage girls.
The operation followed an ongoing investigation into cases of kidnapping, abduction, missing children, and child trafficking. This was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to Ikenga, police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, carried out the raid on January 7, 2026, leading to the arrest of one suspect and the rescue of the victims. Among those rescued were three girls abducted from Ebonyi State on September 26, 2025, who had been missing until they were recently sighted at a location along Emma Pigin Road, Aguleri.
The three abducted children were identified as Divine Mbam (14), Nwagu Favour (15), and Oke Blessing (18).
The statement noted that a 37-year-old woman, identified as Ifeoma Success Anthony, was arrested during the operation. Preliminary investigations revealed that the building was allegedly being used for child trafficking and prostitution. The property is said to belong to one Mrs Ngozi Nnanyelugo, 45, who is currently on the run.
Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the principal suspect, while investigations continue to uncover the full scope of the operation and identify other accomplices. Further updates will be provided as investigations progress.
The Anambra State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives, particularly those of vulnerable children, and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.
The development comes months after the police, in October 2025, rescued a newborn baby in Ifite-Awkuzu following the arrest of four suspects linked to child trafficking. That operation, also carried out by the Rapid Response Squad based on credible intelligence, led to the rescue of a one-week-old baby girl and the arrest of four female suspects in connection with conspiracy and child trafficking.

HOSPITAL CLOSED AFTER SUSPECTED LASSA FEVER CLAIMS FOUR LIVES IN NASARAWA.

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At least four people, including two pregnant women, have reportedly died from suspected Lassa fever cases in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Investigations on Wednesday showed that the outbreak prompted the closure of the General Hospital in Awe, while health workers at the facility, including the Medical Superintendent, were placed under isolation as a precautionary measure.
The Disease Surveillance Officer in the area, Ahmad Abdullahi, said alarm was raised when a woman was rushed to a health facility in Awe with symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever but died before receiving treatment. He added that her husband later died after exhibiting similar symptoms.
Abdullahi identified poor handling of suspected cases as a major challenge in containing the outbreak, noting that some patients referred to Lafia for isolation allegedly escaped.
“None of the disease surveillance officers across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State has been provided with motorcycles, which is hampering rapid response, especially in hard-to-reach areas,” he said.
He further disclosed that although the state government deployed an ambulance to transport six suspected cases to Lafia for isolation, the individuals reportedly absconded before their laboratory results were released.
A nurse at the General Hospital, Awe, Ovey Polycarp, also appealed for the urgent supply of personal protective equipment for health workers to prevent further spread of the disease.
The two pregnant women were brought to the hospital around the same time with symptoms similar to malaria, but their conditions worsened into bleeding and haemorrhage, leading to their deaths,” she said. “We are living in fear because we lack protective gear to handle the situation.”
Responding to the reports, the Director of Public Health at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Attah, said only one case had been laboratory-confirmed in Awe LGA, noting that the patient died before the test result was received.
Meanwhile, fumigation exercises are ongoing at the General Hospital in Awe to curb the spread of the disease to nearby communities.