Health
MSF DECLARES MENINGITIS EMERGENCY IN NORTHWEST NIGERIA AS DEATH TOLL SURPASSES 60
Doctors Without Borders, known internationally as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has declared a public health emergency in Northwest Nigeria following a deadly meningitis outbreak that has killed at least 60 people and hospitalized over 500 across Sokoto and Kebbi states. The highly contagious disease has spread rapidly since early March, overwhelming healthcare systems and prompting urgent calls for mass vaccination campaigns.
MSF reported a sharp rise in cases, particularly in Kebbi State, where its teams are managing over 500 patients in Gwandu, Jega, and Aliero local government areas. More than 60 deaths have been confirmed, with medical workers in the region facing extreme pressure. “The situation is alarming. Meningitis kills quickly if someone does not come to the hospital early enough,” said MSF physician Dr. Bukar Galtimari, based in Kebbi. “You see a mother come in with two or three kids affected, and due to the nature of the disease and how quickly it spreads, the threat to their lives is very real.”
Meningitis, caused by the Neisseria meningitis strain prevalent in Nigeria, can be fatal within 24 hours if untreated, with mortality rates as high as 80% without prompt care. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, nausea, seizures, and sensitivity to light. The disease spreads through respiratory droplets, thriving in the hot, dry conditions of Nigeria’s northwest, part of Sub-Saharan Africa’s “Meningitis Belt.”
MSF teams are supporting local health facilities by providing essential drugs, training staff, and enhancing case management. The organization plans to collaborate with state ministries of health to launch mass vaccination campaigns in Sokoto and Kebbi as early as April. “Local and federal authorities should do everything they can to speed up their vaccination efforts immediately, ensuring enough doses are available for all affected states. This is the only way to prevent people from dying,” stressed Dr. Galtimari.
Emergency teams are also assessing suspected cases in other northern states, with MSF warning that deaths will escalate without swift intervention. The outbreak highlights the critical need for preventive measures in a region where cyclical epidemics are common. Healthcare workers urge communities to seek early treatment and emphasize vaccination as the most effective defense against further loss of life.
Jehovah’s Witnesses has updated its long standing policy on blood transfusions, now allowing members to have their own blood removed, stored, and later returned during medical procedures.
The adjustment means adherents can undergo planned surgeries involving the use of their own blood, but the group still prohibits receiving blood donated by others.
Gerrit Losch, a member of the movement’s leadership, announced the change, stating that each individual Christian must decide how their blood is used in medical and surgical care.
Despite the revision, the organisation emphasized that its core belief on the sanctity of blood remains unchanged. The doctrine is rooted in interpretations of biblical teachings, which followers say instruct believers to abstain from blood.
The development has drawn mixed reactions. Some former members argue the update does not go far enough, particularly in emergency situations where donated blood may be required to save lives.
In a recent legal case in Edinburgh, a court ruled that doctors could administer a blood transfusion to a 14 year old Jehovah’s Witness if necessary to preserve her life, despite her refusal on religious grounds. The judge held that such intervention would be in the child’s best interest.
Jehovah’s Witnesses, known globally for their door to door evangelism, number about nine million members worldwide, including roughly 144,000 in the United Kingdom.
Alberta has proposed new legislation to limit the use of medically assisted dying (MAID) strictly to patients at the end of life, marking the first time a Canadian province has independently sought to impose such restrictions.
Currently, Canada allows medically assisted dying for individuals with serious, incurable illnesses or disabilities, even if their death is not reasonably foreseeable. Federal law is also set to expand MAID eligibility next year to include those whose sole medical condition is mental illness, though implementation has already been delayed twice.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized that assisted dying should be reserved for those with no hope of recovery. “This legislation strengthens safeguards and restores clear limits on eligibility to protect vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness or living with disabilities,” she said. “Those struggling with severe mental health challenges need treatment, compassion and support, not a path to end their life at what may be their lowest moment.”
The proposed bill would prohibit doctors from initiating MAID discussions with patients and ban public advertising of the service in healthcare facilities. It would also formalize conscience protections for healthcare professionals and institutions.
Supporters of the legislation include Moira Wilson, president of Inclusion Canada, who said it “demonstrates that governments can strengthen laws and better protect people whose lives are not nearing an end,” and Mara Grunau, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Alberta division, who highlighted the importance of recovery from mental illness.
However, opponents, including Helen Long, CEO of Dying with Dignity Canada, argue the proposal undermines patient autonomy. Long described the legislation as “a direct attempt to circumvent the constitutional criminal law authority” and warned it could create additional barriers for suffering individuals wishing to exercise choice.
Medically assisted deaths currently account for roughly 5% of deaths in Canada, with the majority involving patients whose death was reasonably foreseeable. Alberta’s proposed law aims to ensure that vulnerable groups, particularly those with mental illnesses or disabilities, are offered support and care rather than premature death.
Canada is among a handful of countries that have introduced assisted dying laws in the past decade, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria.
A 22-year-old Nigerian international student, Rodiyat Alabede, has died after donating plasma at a clinic in Winnipeg, prompting an investigation by Health Canada.
According to a report by The New York Times, the federal health agency confirmed it is examining the deaths of two plasma donors at for-profit clinics in Winnipeg following fatal adverse reactions recorded in October 2025 and January 2026.
The clinics involved are operated by Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company that runs 17 plasma donation centres across Canada, including two in Winnipeg. Health Canada said it received mandatory reports from the facilities and subsequently sent inspectors to both locations to investigate the incidents.
Friends of the late student identified one of the deceased as Alabede, whose parents are from Nigeria and Ivory Coast. She was studying to become a social worker and was said to be active in the Muslim Nigerian community in Winnipeg.
The identity of the second donor has not been disclosed due to privacy laws.
Executive Director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, Stephanie Holfeld, said Alabede became unresponsive during the plasma donation procedure and died shortly afterwards. However, she noted that the death has not yet been formally linked to the donation process as investigations are still ongoing.
“She had a motherly side to her, she was protective and sweet. She never gave up, even when things got difficult for her,” a friend, Chioma Ijoma, said in tribute.
In a statement, Grifols expressed condolences to the families of the deceased donors but stated that there was currently no evidence linking the deaths directly to plasma donation.
The company added that donors undergo extensive health screening before being approved and confirmed that both incidents were reported within the required 72-hour window. It also said an internal investigation had been launched.
Plasma donation involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma, and returning the red blood cells to the body. The practice is common in Canada and the United States, where many students and low-income earners donate plasma to supplement their income.
Grifols advertises that regular donors can earn up to 6,000 Canadian dollars annually, equivalent to about $4,400 or roughly ₦7.2 million.