Health
Enugu boasts model medical centre for low-income and the poor
On the 28th of November 2023, all roads will lead to the Umuchigbo, Iji Nike, Abapka Community in the Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, southeast Nigeria for an epoch event as a model state-of-the-art Medical Centre constructed and equipped by the TY Danjuma Foundation will be unveiled.
The Goodwill Medical Centre is one of the more than 200 pro-poor multimillion-dollar projects within and outside Nigeria funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation with the approval of the Taraba State, northern Nigeria-born General TY Danjuma (rtd), a generous but quiet philanthropist.
The Medical Centre, which will cater to the health needs of low-income families and poor communities in Enugu state and neighbouring states in southeast Nigeria, is aimed at achieving the UN SDGs, an indication that Nigeria can demonstrate leadership by replicating the Enugu Medical Centre-type project in the country’s 774 LGAs.
On that day, the community on the outskirts of Nigeria’s metropolitan coal City of Enugu, will welcome dignitaries and sundry guests to the Commissioning of a multimillion Naira project – a philanthropic response to the healthcare needs of the poor and low-income families in the host community and neighbouring States.
It is an understatement that healthcare systems in Africa are disappointingly weak, under-staffed and under-resourced.
Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation is not spared the attendant grim human development statistics.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 63% of persons living in Nigeria (133 million people) are multidimensionally poor because of a lack of access to healthcare, education, living standards, employment, and security.
Coming at a time of severe socio-economic hardship, the Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC) Enugu Project is unique not only in the choice of its location (in a slum), but also in its name. It is the brainchild of Nigeria’s unsung philanthropist, with great empathy for the poor and needy in the society irrespective of ethnicity, creed, religion, or political affiliations.
Retired General Theophilus Y. Danjuma
General TY Danjuma GCON (Rtd) is a gentleman officer and an unassuming personality whose sacrifices and contributions to the development of Nigeria and other parts of the world are well documented. But the General is grossly underpublicized, in terms of his philanthropy and generosity, his big heart and unconditional love for the poor and underprivileged.
As a demonstration of this passion and public-spiritedness, General Danjuma in 2022, gave his approval for a state-of-the-art Medical Centre to be constructed and equipped in Enugu State through his TY Danjuma Foundation.
The Centre is now ready for commissioning by General Danjuma.
Since his retirement from the Nigerian Army, it only took a fellow General to convince him to take up public office, to serve as defence minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Otherwise, General Danjuma has devoted his life and investments to initiatives for the empowerment and well-being of the poor.
The GMC in Enugu State is only one of more than 200 pro-poor projects funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation, which has spent 42.5 million US dollars between 2009 and 2023 on life-changing projects implemented by 150 grantees across Nigeria’s 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
General Danjuma’s passion to improve the well-being of poor communities is not limited to Nigeria. In 2010, he donated one million US dollars towards the elimination of River blindness in sub-Saharan Africa through the World Health Organization African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (WHO/APOC).
That donation contributed to the strengthening of health systems in 140,000 communities in 19 river blindness-endemic African countries. He became the first African known for such a gesture in support of one of the World’s most successful public health intervention programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Only last September, General Danjuma was recognized with the prestigious International Humanitarian Service Award by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for “his visionary leadership and dedication to advancing humanitarian service in Nigeria and beyond.”
Another contributor behind the GMC project is Prof Uche Amazigo, Nigeria’s renowned pro-poor public health specialist, and one of the few female Africans to have led a specialized UN Agency, overseeing a highly successful multilateral partnership in global health. Prof Amazigo is the first female Director of WHO/APOC and repositioned the river blindness programme from a control to the elimination stage before her retirement from the UN System in 2011.
Fully funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation, the GMC project is the brainchild of Prof Amazigo, a recipient of multiple international laurels including the Knight of the National Order of Burkina Faso (2011) and the prestigious Prince Mahidol Award (2012), and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS).
The Centre seeks to provide free and low-cost services to poor/low-income families by medical consultants, midwives, and nurses, while the rich and middle class would be charged standard fees.
Envisioning a “world where people unite to address the healthcare challenges of poor families in our communities and beyond,” the GMC “mission is to provide healthcare services; promote integrity, advance goodwill and peace through the engagement of medical professionals and communities as a not-for-profit self-sustaining project.”
Before the construction work began, a series of structured consultations and research/surveys were carried out to determine the health needs of the community and how to elicit their participation and collective ownership of the project. This is in line with the community-directed health intervention strategy championed by Prof Amazigo.
The pre-project survey showed that 71% of 2000 respondents are located between one km and 10 km from their nearest health facility: with very poor and poor families representing over 60% of the target groups.
All communities in the Umuchimgbo, Iji Nike, Abakpa, residents in Enugu urban and neighbouring States will also benefit from the GMC services.
Lying on an area of 2,681.320 sqm, the Centre is connected to the public power supply network but has an independent power generator and solar power system. It also has an independent water supply system with treatment facilities.
It has an Outpatient clinic, Accident and Emergency, a state-of-the-art Theatre, Eye Health Theatre for cataract surgery, Labour Room, Female, Male and Children’s Wards, a Pharmacy, a well-equipped Laboratory, Ambulance services, and administrative offices.
The main services on offer at GMC include Maternal and Child Health, General Primary Healthcare, Laboratory, Eye Health, Prevention and treatment of Communicable Diseases, General surgical services, Accident and Emergency.
The Centre will also provide opportunity for Research and out-reach programmes with Diaspora-based health professionals. It promises free treatment for indigent patients and standard charges for others, with compulsory enrolment and participation in the National Health Insurance Scheme for all patients, particularly low-income members.
The GMC has a Management Board of mainly volunteers, carefully selected to handle the administration, while the Discalced Carmelite Friars, Nigeria, oversee the Fund management.
The provision of healthcare services is a collective responsibility and should not be left to the government alone.
A major step for Nigeria and other African countries toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Health targets, is for governments to implement without further delay, the allocation of at least 15% of national budgets to the development of the health sector as agreed by African leaders under the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
Improved collaboration by the private and public sectors to scale up health investments, interventions and support to GMC and similar health projects will also contribute to the achievement of health and other SDGs.
To acknowledge and encourage philanthropists such as General Danjuma and not-for-profit organisations such as the TY Danjuma Foundation, for their contributions and investments in the health of the population, concrete financial and technical support to health initiatives such as the GMC project, with bearing on the SDGs and human development, are imperative and highly recommended.
The World is going through difficult times, but ‘health they say is wealth,’ and Nigeria as the powerhouse of Africa could demonstrate exemplary leadership by replicating the GMC-type project in communities across the country’s 774 Local Government Areas.
This is achievable once the political will is there.
The people of Enugu State and neighbouring southeastern States are the direct beneficiaries of the multi-million GMC project, but the Centre is accessible to all, irrespective of geographical location or nationality.
The TY Danjuma Foundation, and especially, the Taraba State, northern Nigeria-born General Danjuma, deserve commendation from all and sundry for the goodwill health project and other exemplary pro-poor life-transforming initiatives.
Paul Ejime is a Global Affairs Analyst and Consultant on Peace & Security and Governance Communications.
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Detectives from the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a man posing as a medical doctor following the death of a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Sunday Etim, during an alleged illegal abortion.
The suspect, identified as Sunday Okon Akpan, reportedly owns and operates the Full Life Medical Centre (FLMC) in Ikot Obio Odongo, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Timfon John, the spokesperson for the Akwa Ibom Police Command, revealed that police launched a search for the victim after receiving a distress call from her mother.
DSP John stated that operatives acted quickly following the report, which indicated that Blessing had gone to work at the FLMC and never returned.
According to police reports, the suspect attempted to secretly dispose of the victim’s body in her room.
A co-tenant, who witnessed the act, raised an alarm, forcing the suspect to abandon the corpse and flee the scene.
Police quickly arrived at the scene, where detectives discovered a premature foetus, confirming the occurrence of an illegal abortion.
Police traced and arrested Sunday Okon Akpan, a resident of Afaha Offiong village, Nsit Ibom LGA.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect is not a licensed medical doctor or nurse but a community health practitioner who allegedly used his clinic to perform illegal medical procedures, including abortions.
The health centre has since been found abandoned.
DSP John confirmed that the victim’s body has been deposited at a morgue for preservation and autopsy, while investigations continue to uncover more details surrounding the incident.
She also promised to update the public as the probe progresses.
This shocking incident highlights the dangers of unlicensed medical practitioners operating clinics and offering illegal procedures.
Police authorities are warning residents to verify the credentials of anyone offering medical services and to report suspicious activities to prevent similar tragedies.
As the investigation unfolds, Akwa Ibom police have vowed to ensure that justice is served, and the public remains safe from unqualified medical practitioners operating in the state.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the circulation of fake Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachets in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 22, 2025, the agency explained that the counterfeit milk is packaged to look like the discontinued Cowbell “Our Milk,” but it is unauthorised and unsafe for consumption.
NAFDAC clarified that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, the authentic manufacturer, stopped producing Cowbell “Our Milk” in September 2023.
The product was replaced with Cowbell “Our Creamy Goodness.” Despite this, fake versions of the old product have found their way into Nigerian markets.
Picture of Fake cowbell milk.
The counterfeit sachets bear the brand name, NAFDAC registration number, and familiar packaging design, making them difficult for unsuspecting buyers to identify as fake.
Health Dangers of Fake Cowbell Milk
NAFDAC warned that the consumption of these counterfeit products poses serious health risks.
Fake milk could contain toxic chemicals, harmful additives, or diluted ingredients that endanger human health.
Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are the most vulnerable. Possible dangers include:
- Foodborne illnesses
- Allergic reactions
- Organ damage
- Long-term health complications
- In extreme cases, death
Counterfeit Product Details
- Product Name: Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet
- Purported Manufacturer: Promasidor Nigeria Ltd
- Production Date: 04/2025
- Expiry Date: 12/2028
Picture of original cowbell milk.
NAFDAC Issues Strong Warning
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid purchasing the counterfeit milk.
Healthcare professionals, distributors, and consumers have been advised to report suspicious sales of substandard or fake products immediately.
Reports can be made through:
The nearest NAFDAC office
Toll-free line: 0800-162-3322
Email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
NAFDAC also called on traders and retailers to stop selling the fake sachets.
The agency assured the public that strict enforcement measures are being taken to remove the counterfeit products from circulation.
This is not the first time Nigerians have faced risks from fake food and beverages.
Experts warn that counterfeit consumables are becoming more sophisticated, often making them difficult to spot.
Consumers are advised to always check product details, expiry dates, and packaging changes announced by manufacturers.
By highlighting the dangers and raising awareness, NAFDAC says it hopes to protect Nigerians from avoidable health crises linked to fake milk products
Men planning to father children have been strongly advised to marry and start a family before turning 40.
Medical experts warn that delayed fatherhood increases the risk of weak sperm and genetic disorders in children.
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, the President of the Nigerian Association of Urological Surgeons, Professor Nuhu Dakum, explained that male fertility sharply declines with age.
He stressed that sperm quality begins to deteriorate after 40, leaving children more vulnerable to inherited health conditions.
According to him, “Sperm quality reduces with age. The count, motility, and morphology are all affected. There is also an increase in DNA damage, which predisposes babies to genetic diseases.”
Why Men Over 40 Face Higher Risks
Professor Dakum revealed that several factors contribute to poor sperm quality as men grow older.
These include natural biological changes, smoking, alcohol abuse, poor nutrition, and exposure to toxins at work or in the environment.
He emphasized that while sperm decline can vary from man to man, the drop becomes significant around 40.
This means men who delay starting families until middle age could struggle with infertility and pass on genetic risks.
The concern gained fresh attention after a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) sparked a heated debate.
The post claimed that older men produce weak sperm that increases the chances of children developing genetic mutations such as autism, Down syndrome, schizophrenia, and dwarfism.
Medical experts say these claims have some truth.
The Texas Fertility Centre has confirmed that sperm quality and quantity decline with age, leading to age-related male infertility.
Similarly, Healthline, a trusted medical portal, reports that men over 50 experience a significant drop in sperm quality, with sperm count and unhealthy lifestyle habits playing key roles in the decline.
Healthy Living Can Improve Sperm Strength
Professor Dakum, however, clarified that older men can still father healthy children if they maintain good sperm health.
He stressed that healthy living benefits both general well-being and sperm quality.
He said, “There may not be much to prevent if the man is already old, but living healthy improves general health and sperm health.
Options like embryo genetic selection or sperm DNA testing can reduce risks, though these are costly and not widely available. Donor sperm is also an option for couples facing such challenges.”
What This Means for Nigerian Men
The warning is clear: delaying fatherhood comes with health risks for both fathers and children.
Men who prioritize career or wealth before family may unknowingly endanger their future children’s health.
Medical experts now urge Nigerian men to plan early, get married before 40, and adopt a healthier lifestyle to protect their fertility.
With infertility cases rising in Nigeria, the advice serves as a wake-up call.
Alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diets, and late marriages are becoming common among Nigerian men. But experts insist that fertility should not be left to chance.
Starting a family earlier in life, avoiding harmful habits, eating well, and reducing exposure to toxins remain the most effective ways to preserve fertility.
For men who are already older, fertility specialists recommend medical consultations, sperm analysis, and lifestyle changes.
Genetic testing may also help reduce risks when planning for children.
Conclusion
Professor Dakum’s advice highlights an often-overlooked issue in male health. Sperm quality is not permanent, and time works against men just as it does against women.
Nigerian men now face a crucial decision: delay marriage and risk weak sperm, or act early and secure a healthier future for their children.
President Bola Tinubu has approved a major reduction in the cost of kidney dialysis in federal hospitals. The price has dropped from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000.
This move comes as part of his administration’s push to make healthcare more affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
The announcement came on Monday through Daniel Bwala, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Information.
He revealed the development in a post on his official X, formerly Twitter handle.
According to him, the subsidy already covers several federal medical centres and teaching hospitals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Bwala explained that this policy has started running in major health institutions, ensuring that kidney patients now pay less for treatment.
He also noted that more hospitals will join the scheme before the year ends, giving broader access to citizens.
Currently, patients can access the reduced dialysis service at these hospitals:
1. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Metta, Lagos
2. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja
3. University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State
4. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Imo State
5. University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri, Borno State
6. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State
7. Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos
8. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Azare, Bauchi State
9. University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State
10. University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross River State.
More hospitals will be added as the program expands, Bwala confirmed. He stressed that Tinubu’s decision reflects his promise to put citizens’ welfare first.
By cutting costs, the government wants to ease the financial pain that families face while battling chronic illnesses.
Furthermore, this step is not an isolated policy. It fits into the Tinubu administration’s wider healthcare reforms.
Alongside dialysis subsidies, the government is rolling out oncology and diagnostic facilities to improve cancer and disease detection.
In addition, about 120,000 frontline health workers will undergo retraining to boost the quality of care across the country.
The President has also redesigned the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to make primary healthcare more accessible in rural and urban areas.
Another key reform is the approval of free Caesarean sections for vulnerable pregnant women in federal hospitals, further showing the government’s focus on saving lives.
With these reforms, Tinubu aims to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The reduction in dialysis cost, in particular, gives hope to thousands of kidney patients who have long struggled with overwhelming medical bills.
Featured
Nigerian scientist Dr. Samuel Achilefu invents infrared goggles to detect cancer cells in real time
DDM News
(DDM) – Nigerian-born scientist Dr. Samuel Achilefu has developed groundbreaking infrared goggles that allow surgeons to see cancer cells while operating.
The revolutionary technology makes cancer cells glow in real time, enabling surgeons to identify and remove tumors with higher accuracy.
Before this invention, doctors struggled to confirm complete tumor removal during surgery and often relied on lab results afterward.
Dr. Achilefu’s fluorescence-guided goggles eliminate that delay, improving precision and significantly reducing patient trauma.
The innovation also reduces the likelihood of repeat operations, giving patients a better chance at faster recovery.
DDM gathered that Dr. Achilefu, a distinguished radiologist, has published more than 300 scientific papers.
He also holds over 70 medical patents in the United States, cementing his place among the world’s leading innovators in medical science.
Born in Obingwa, Abia State, Nigeria, his academic journey took him across continents.
He earned a PhD in molecular physical and materials chemistry before completing postdoctoral training at Oxford University, focusing on oxygen transport systems.
Today, his work blends chemistry, engineering, and medicine to transform cancer treatment globally.
Surgeons using his device no longer have to rely solely on touch or sight to trace tumors.
Instead, the glowing effect of cancer cells under infrared light allows for precise cutting with minimal risk.
Medical experts say this innovation could revolutionize cancer surgeries worldwide.
Dr. Achilefu’s achievements are celebrated not only in the U.S. but across Africa, where he remains a source of inspiration.
He has received international awards for innovation, including recognition for improving global healthcare outcomes.
His invention underscores the power of African excellence in science and technology.
#TheAfricanDream continues to spotlight innovators shaping the world from humble beginnings.
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