In April 2025, the Nigerian health sector faced a mix of urgent challenges and advances.
In April 2025, the Nigerian health sector faced a mix of urgent challenges and some progress. From rising disease outbreaks and growing concerns about HIV and vaccination, to government-led interventions targeting primary healthcare and medical training, the month reflects the ongoing struggle to balance crisis response and long-term reform.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important health stories of April
Global health organizations warn of an increase in disease outbreaks
In April, global health organisations warned that the rise in incidence of measles, meningitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases threatened decades of vaccination progress.
The warning came from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, as it marked the World Vaccination Week from April 24th to 30th.
Decades of progress in reducing child mortality are at stake due to cuts in funding, misinformation, population growth and the ongoing humanitarian crisis, according to the agency.
They urged the government and donors to support global efforts to save lives and maintain vaccination programs.
Rivers, Venue and Akwaibom record the highest HIV cases in Nigeria – Report
A new report by the National AIDS Administration (NACA) shows that Nigeria has the highest number of people living in HIV (PLWHIV).
The report entitled “2024 HIV Spectrum Estimates” shows that Rivers State accounts for 208,767 HIV cases, followed by Benue State with 202,346 cases, with Akwa Ibom ranked third with 161,597 cases.
The report shows that Nigerian commercial hub Lagos state has 108,649 cases, ranking fourth in the nation.
This is followed by 100,429 Anambra, but the Federal Capital Region (FCT) has one of the highest numbers in the northern region, with 83,333 cases reported.
More than 2 million people currently live with HIV across the country, underscoring the need for sustained efforts in access to prevention, testing and treatment, according to the report.
Yobe is eligible for 80% vaccinations by 2026
In the welcome development, the Yobe State Government said it is committed to closing the vaccination gap and achieving 80% vaccination coverage by 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts to protect children from vaccinated diseases.
In a day-long media dialogue to mark the 2025 World Vaccination Day in Damatur, Health Director Muhammad Gana said strategic action is being implemented and is being implemented to reach communities with underserved services.
Gana emphasized that unvaccinated children pose serious public health risks and contribute to the recurring outbreak of diseases such as diphtheria, cholera, encephalopathy and vaccine-derived polio.
“We need to reach at least 80% coverage by next year to achieve flock immunity and protect our community,” he said.
Nigeria has the highest number of unvaccinated children worldwide – UNICEF
In April, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous Nigeria, currently carries the highest burden on unvaccinated children around the world.
UNICEF Health Officer Bashir Eleganbed said he was responsible for around 2.1 million Nigerian children (24% of an estimated 8.7 million underdogs) and did not receive a single regular vaccine dose.
He said these children are called “zero dosing” (ZD) children because they have not received the vaccine according to the national vaccination schedule.
He said the global goal he pointed out is to reduce the number of children with zero doses by 2025 by 25% and by 50% by 2030.
Nigerian government will rehabilitate 18 medical schools for N1.8 billion – Official
The federal government has deployed N110 billion from the Higher Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) High Influence Intervention Project for medical school rehabilitation in 18 institutions.
The project, which forms an important pillar of Nigeria’s Education Sector Renewal Initiative, was announced during the inauguration of the Ministerial Committee on Tetfund High Impact Intervention Project.
At the inauguration, Minister of Education Tonji Arausa emphasized that the intervention is a direct response to the urgent need to expand Nigeria’s ability to train health professionals.
He said medical professionals will be trained in four key areas: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing.
According to him, the project will cover 18 universities in six geopolitical zones and rehabilitate and modernize key infrastructures such as lecture theatres, laboratories, clinical environments and student hostels.
11 million people living with diabetes in Nigeria – Experts
Medical experts at Nonoda Teaching Hospital (Akth) in Ilyasuzubail said they currently live in Nigeria with diabetes and many more people have not been diagnosed.
Professor Ilyas highlighted the urgent need for widespread public sensitization to adopt a healthier lifestyle and combat the threat of diabetes and obesity.
He was on the subject of “endocrinology and public health” at the 14th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists of Nigeria (ACEN).
61.5 million Nigerians have been vaccinated with malaria, yellow fever, HPV and more – Official
The federal government said more than 61.5 million Nigerians, most children, have been vaccinated against measles, yellow fever, human papillomavirus (HPV), malaria and MPO.
Muyi Aina, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said in the 2024 measles and yellow fever campaign, 25.9 million children were vaccinated against measles in 26 states, and 22.5 million received yellow fever vaccines in Lagos, Yobe and Borno states.
He also said Nigeria managed to control the outbreak of cholera in eight states, including floods in Borno, vaccinations and other interventions.
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Aina said the agency is working to improve the quality of its health campaigns to address outbreaks related to gaps in the scope of daily vaccinations.
Nigerian government has revitalized 901 PHC and targeted another 2,700 by 2025
The Nigerian government has revitalized 901 primary health care centres (PHCs) across the country over the past year as part of an effort to strengthen the country’s health care system.
Muyi Aina, executive director of NPHCDA, said the drive for revitalization, implemented in collaboration with state governments, development partners and the private sector, is aimed at ensuring that all Nigerian wards have at least one fully functional PHC capable of providing two hours of care.
Aina added that over 2,700 PHCs are currently being upgraded, with completion being targeted by the end of 2025.
Lassa Fever: Deaths rise to 127 -NCDC
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said it had recorded 674 Lassa Fever and 127 deaths in 14 weeks.
He said the deaths resulted in a fatality rate of 18.8%. This is a slight increase from 18.5% recorded in the same period in 2024.
The NCDC said it recorded 4,025 suspected cases from January to April.
The Centre said the incident spans 18 states and 93 local government areas, of which 674 have been confirmed.
