Health Review: Ebola alert, Lassa fever deaths, maternal health push, other developments that shaped September
September brought significant developments across Nigeria’s health sector, from new maternal health interventions and healthcare financing to local production of essential health products.
Beyond Nigeria, concerns over Ebola and declining malaria financing also kept regional health security in focus.
PREMIUM TIMES reviews some of the major health developments that shaped the month.
Nigeria heightens alert over DRC Ebola outbreak
Nigeria strengthened surveillance measures following the continued spread of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
As of 21 September, the DRC had recorded 7,773 confirmed cases and 3,759 deaths across 63 health zones in seven provinces. The NCDC said travellers arriving from countries with active or relevant Ebola transmission may be required to complete a Health Declaration Form.
Lassa fever deaths rise to 259
Nigeria recorded 1,086 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 259 deaths across 24 states and 118 Local Government Areas, with the case fatality rate rising to 23.9 per cent.
The NCDC identified late presentation, high treatment costs, poor health-seeking behaviour and inadequate awareness in high-burden communities among the challenges contributing to the high death rate.
FG launches incentives for maternal, newborn healthcare
The federal government launched new incentives to increase use of maternal and newborn health services under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII).
The intervention seeks to address barriers that prevent women and newborns from accessing timely, quality healthcare, including antenatal care, skilled delivery, and postnatal services.
Nigeria begins local production of insecticide-treated nets
Nigeria has begun local production of dual-active-ingredient insecticide-treated mosquito nets as part of efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and reduce dependence on imported health products.
At full capacity, the new manufacturing facility is expected to produce about 10 million nets annually and create more than 600 jobs.
Kaduna intervention strengthens response to postpartum bleeding
A maternal health intervention in Kaduna State is strengthening the capacity of primary healthcare workers to detect and manage postpartum haemorrhage, one of Nigeria’s leading causes of maternal deaths.
Under the Task Shifting Task Sharing project, 77 Community Health Extension Workers across 77 primary healthcare facilities in nine LGAs were trained in maternal and newborn healthcare, including the E-MOTIVE approach for managing excessive bleeding after childbirth. Programme records show that supported PHCs managed 192 postpartum haemorrhage cases between October 2025 and June 2026.
Nigeria targets 70 per cent local production of essential health products
The federal government announced a target to produce at least 70 per cent of Nigeria’s essential healthcare products locally by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen medicine security and reduce dependence on imports.
The government said it had secured about $2 billion in financing commitments, while 87 local manufacturers benefited from zero tariffs on pharmaceutical machinery and production inputs.
Diphtheria outbreak persists in Plateau
Plateau State recorded 469 suspected diphtheria cases and 31 deaths, with cases reported across 10 of the state’s 17 local government areas.
The state government said 160,000 children had been vaccinated as authorities intensified immunisation, surveillance and public awareness efforts to contain the outbreak.
Malaria funding cuts threaten Africa’s progress
African health leaders warned that a 30 per cent reduction in malaria financing could lead to an additional 146 million cases and nearly 400,000 deaths on the continent by 2030.
The warning renewed calls for stronger domestic financing as African countries account for the overwhelming majority of the global malaria burden.
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