In a letter released to all Diocesans on Wednesday, 8th of October, His Grace, the Most Reverend Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, the Primate of All Nigeria, has issued a directive through the Office of the General Secretary for the celebration of this day, which aligns with the objectives of the Church’s Health Action Plan.

The Primate strongly encourages all Archbishops and Bishops to ensure that their Clergy participate actively in observing this significant day.

The celebration is intended to recognize the patron saint of physicians and surgeons, St. Luke, and to bring focus to the Church’s commitment to healthcare and well-being.

Korede Akintunde
CoN Communications Officer
8th October, 2025

The patient, who was originally admitted to a de-addiction centre in Ghaziabad, was rushed to the hospital after complaining of excruciating abdominal pain. 

An ultrasound scan revealed multiple metallic objects inside his stomach, prompting an emergency operation led by Dr. Shyam Kumar.

The surgical team performed a complex procedure to carefully extract the foreign items one by one, ensuring no damage to the man’s vital organs. 

Despite the inherent risks of the operation, it was successful, and the patient has since been discharged and is in stable condition.

Following the surgery, the man reportedly disclosed that he had begun swallowing the objects as a desperate act of self-injury.

He told doctors he felt mistreated, frustrated, and deprived of food while at the rehabilitation centre, which led to his agitated state and subsequent attempt to harm himself.

The report noted that such cases are rare but not unprecedented in India. A similar incident in 2022 saw 63 spoons recovered from a patient who was also a drug addict admitted to a rehabilitation centre.

The tragedy was confirmed by the president of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Tope Osundara. Dr. Rotifa was discovered on the floor of the call room, a space intended for rest. 

According to Osundara, while the doctor was also being treated for malaria, the primary cause of his death was the severe physical strain from overwork.

“Unfortunately, the workload was strenuous, and they had to regularly go over 24-hour shifts. He had reviewed a patient, and afterwards, he went to the call room to rest,” he said.

“Ideally, no one should be on call for even 24 hours. We later discovered he was treating malaria, but adults in Nigeria don’t die of malaria. Malaria is endemic in Nigeria. He had malaria but still had to go and treat a patient.”

“The overuse of manpower strained his health and led to this painful death. His death was due to overworking.”

Osundara strongly condemned the excessive workloads imposed on doctors in Nigerian hospitals, highlighting that medical professionals are frequently forced to work shifts that exceed 24 hours. 

“The burnout and workload among medical doctors is becoming very worrisome. The overuse of manpower strained his health and led to this painful death. His death was due to overworking,”he said.

“We have cried out and complained repeatedly. What happened is that the resident doctor was on call in the emergency room.”

He emphasized that the unfortunate death was a consequence of the hospital’s over-reliance on a limited number of staff. 

The NARD president called on the government to take immediate action to address the significant shortage of medical staff, improve the welfare of doctors, and implement more humane and sustainable work schedules. 

The incident underscores the critical and often dangerous working conditions faced by medical professionals throughout Nigeria.

Doctors picketed outside hospitals following the breakdown of talks on Thursday, with the action intended to last for five days until Wednesday 30 July.

Prime Minister Starmer appealed to the striking doctors on Friday, warning that patients’ safety was at risk and that the strikes would “cause real damage.” 

“The route the BMA resident doctors committee have chosen will mean everyone loses. My appeal to resident doctors is this: do not follow the BMA leadership down this damaging road. Our NHS and your patients need you,” he wrote in the Times. “Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage,” he said.

This industrial action comes despite junior doctors having accepted a 22.3 percent pay rise over two years in September, shortly after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour party took office. 

Junior doctors, those below consultant level, stated they felt compelled to strike again to counter “pay erosion” since 2008.

However, junior doctors maintain that their real-term pay has declined by over 21 percent in the last two decades. Melissa Ryan and Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chairs of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, questioned, “We’re not working 21 per cent less hard so why should our pay suffer?”

Last year’s doctors’ strikes, which led to the cancellation of tens of thousands of appointments and delayed treatments, were part of a series of public and private sector walkouts driven by disputes over pay and working conditions amid soaring inflation.

Health Minister Wes Streeting also appealed to the doctors to reconsider their position, stating in a letter published in The Telegraph that the government “cannot afford to go further on pay this year.”

The previous Conservative government had resisted the BMA’s demand for a 35 percent “pay restoration” to account for real-term inflation over the past decade. Last year, the Labour party aimed to resolve several disputes by offering pay deals to public sector workers, including teachers and train drivers, which included a 15 percent pay deal over three years for train drivers that drew criticism from the Conservative opposition.

Speaking in Bauchi during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, NAFDAC State Coordinator, Mr. Hamis Yahaya, explained that hydroquinone—commonly used for treating skin conditions like melasma and dark spots—is only considered safe at a concentration of two percent or less in cosmetic products.

He noted that NAFDAC actively inspects cosmetic products in the market to safeguard public health and warned against unregulated cream formulations by non-experts.

“Melanin in black skin provides natural protection against harmful radiation,” Yahaya said. “Using creams with more than the approved hydroquinone level is harmful, and prolonged use may result in serious health consequences, including cancer.”

He stressed the need for media organizations to amplify awareness campaigns about the risks associated with unsafe cosmetic products, particularly those containing excessive hydroquinone.

The award-winning singer made the announcement on Thursday via his Instagram page, describing the initiative as deeply personal and rooted in his own journey with the condition.

He revealed that the scheme will begin by offering free health insurance to 1,000 sickle cell warriors in Lagos State, with a broader vision to ease the financial burden of managing the disease.

“5 Star Care isn’t just an initiative, it’s a promise—to ensure that sickle cell warriors are seen, heard, and cared for,” he wrote. “We’re starting small, but this is only the beginning.”

The project is being spearheaded through the Adekunle Gold Foundation in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Health Management Agency, and the Sickle Cell Management Initiatives.

In a video message accompanying the announcement, Adekunle Gold emphasized the importance of access to quality healthcare, regardless of one’s background or income. “Our goal is simple: to ease the financial burden of managing sickle cell and help more people get the care they deserve without stress,” he said. “As someone who’s walked this path, I know how powerful it is to have the right support.”

He encouraged those eligible to register through the foundation’s official website, noting that this was just the beginning of a long-term commitment.

Kudabo was convicted on two counts of sexual assault after pleading guilty before the York Crown Court on Tuesday. The assaults occurred while the victim—nearly immobile due to a severe medical condition—was bedridden and completely reliant on others for support.

According to Prosecutor Henry Fernandez, the first assault happened after Kudabo gave the woman a bed bath and leaned in to kiss her on the lips. Although she attempted to turn away, her condition left her unable to resist. A few days later, despite her refusal of further personal care, Kudabo returned and kissed her again as she lay helpless.

The court heard that the incidents occurred just nine months after Kudabo arrived in the UK from Nigeria. He was living in the South Bank area of York at the time and working as a healthcare assistant at the hospital.

During police questioning, Kudabo claimed he had kissed the woman on the forehead as a gesture of sympathy, not on the lips. He said the act was “in keeping with his duties” as a caregiver.

However, in a victim impact statement read in court, the woman described the long-lasting trauma she has experienced since the assaults, including fear, helplessness, anxiety, and loss of trust in caregivers. She also reported ongoing flashbacks and depression.

Defence lawyer Jerry Sodipe acknowledged that Kudabo’s actions were inappropriate but noted that he had no prior criminal record.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Alex Menary said, “You abused the trust placed in you as a carer. She was particularly vulnerable—immobile and entirely dependent on you. I am satisfied the kiss was on the lips, and your actions have deeply affected the victim’s wellbeing.”

Judge Menary emphasized that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary to reflect the gravity of the offence. Kudabo will serve half of his 12-month sentence behind bars and the rest under supervision. He has also been added to the UK sex offenders register for 10 years.

The diagnosis has prompted an outpouring of concern and messages of support from across the political spectrum.

The statement detailed that Biden underwent further medical evaluation following reports of increasing urinary symptoms. This evaluation led to the discovery of a prostate nodule, and subsequent tests confirmed prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, indicating a high-grade, aggressive form of the disease, and that it has spread to the bone. Biden and his family are actively reviewing treatment options with his medical team.

Expressions of support have been received from numerous political figures.

Former Vice President, Kamala Harris conveyed her support via social media platform X, stating, “Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”

“Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery,” Former President Obama extended his sympathy.

The diagnosis has reignited discussions surrounding the health of senior political figures. Medical experts emphasize that while metastatic prostate cancer is a serious condition, advancements in treatment have significantly improved patient outcomes.

Recognized as a hub for Africa’s largest counterfeit wine and beverage cartel, the market was raided on December 15, 2024, with authorities seizing fake products valued at approximately N5 billion.

In a statement sent to PUNCH Healthwise on Tuesday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that shutting down the market—following its initial closure in December 2023—was a critical step in eliminating substandard and fake beverages from circulation.

NAFDAC’s crackdown aligns with its ongoing fight against the spread of falsified and substandard medicines nationwide. The agency’s latest action also follows an investigation by PUNCH Healthwise, which exposed the surge of fake and unregistered Seretide inhalers in Nigeria after the departure of British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

According to Adeyeye, the operation, carried out in collaboration with the military, Nigeria Police, and Department of State Services (DSS), marked an unprecedented level of inter-agency coordination. She described it as the most extensive enforcement effort in the market’s history, noting that specific zones remain barricaded with iron-welded barriers and locked gates.

During the raid, over 240 shops—transformed into illegal factories—were searched, leading to the confiscation of adulterated products, including Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Amstel Malt, as well as counterfeit versions of Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, and Peak Chocolate Drink.

The statement detailed the counterfeit operations, revealing that criminal networks were manufacturing and selling fake versions of well-known alcoholic brands such as Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Label, Gordon’s, Martell, Campari, and Smirnoff Ice. Additionally, fake non-alcoholic drinks such as Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, and Cartel were also being produced.

“As a result of the large-scale raid, NAFDAC uncovered over 240 makeshift factories where these harmful products were being manufactured and distributed,” the statement read.

“These illegal factories operated in unsanitary conditions, using contaminated water, hazardous chemicals, saccharin, artificial coloring, and repurposed dirty bottles with cloned packaging materials from legitimate brands. The adulteration of alcoholic beverages involved mixing cheaper sugar and starch sources—rather than fruits or grapes—alongside other dangerous substances unfit for human consumption.”

Adeyeye further disclosed that over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products were destroyed in the raid.

She noted that while the estimated street value of the seized counterfeit products in 2023 was N750 million, the latest haul from the December 15, 2024, operation reached a staggering N5 billion.

Among the counterfeit goods confiscated and destroyed were soft drinks and carbonated beverages, including Fanta, Coca-Cola, Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt, Super Commando Energy Drink, Fayrouz, and Amstel Malta. Fake versions of popular household beverages such as Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, Peak Chocolate Drink, Miksi Sachet Milk, Cadbury Chocolate Drink, and Ovaltine were also seized.

“Before NAFDAC intervened, these counterfeit products were being manufactured, packaged, and sold to unsuspecting consumers,” Adeyeye stated.

She expressed gratitude to Abia State Governor Alex Otti for his support of the “Operation Clean Up Aba” initiative.

NAFDAC also acknowledged the cooperation of the Mayor of Aba South, the interim management committee of Cemetery Market, and other key stakeholders, which led to the recent discovery of three major warehouses stockpiling expired Hollandia Yoghurt for illegal revalidation on January 22, 2025.

Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health, NAFDAC urged the public to report any suspected counterfeit or substandard regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Punch