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Business Insider
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Insider
WHX Lagos & WHX Labs Lagos 2025 conclude with transformative impact on West Africa's healthcare landscape
The 2025 editions of WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos have concluded with resounding success, reaffirming the WHX platform's role as the region's most influential hub for healthcare investment, diagnostics, and policy advancement. Now in its 12th edition and rebranded from Medic West Africa and Medlab West Africa, the event delivered a fully unified experience, convening stakeholders across healthcare delivery, diagnostics, digital health, policy, and investment in a three-day convergence at the Landmark Centre, Lagos. The event attracted over 8000 professional visits and about 500 exhibitors from across Africa and beyond, reflecting the growing global interest in West Africa's healthcare transformation. Attendees experienced the latest in advanced diagnostics, medical imaging, AI-driven health technologies, and breakthrough pharmaceuticals — all underscoring the urgency and ambition to create more resilient, equitable, and patient-centered healthcare systems in the region. The exhibition and conference attracted local and international investors, exhibitors and renowned speakers including Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Chairman of the 10th Senate Committee on Health, Nigeria; Prof Akin Abayomi, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State; Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria; Njide Ndilii, President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN); Dr. Pamela Ajayi, Founder Synlab Nigeria; Donald Ofili, Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and Prof Christian Happi, Professor, Molecular Biology and Genomics, Redeemer's University. The official opening was declared by Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Chairman of the 10th Senate Committee on Health and Vice Chair on Women Affairs, who highlighted the critical role of public-private integration in building a sustainable healthcare system for all Nigerians. She commended WHX for providing a platform that drives impact-oriented dialogue and investment opportunities essential to transforming the healthcare sector. The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Professor Akin Abayomi, emphasized the significance of such a convening, stating, ' This year's WHX Lagos is the largest we've seen, and it continues to grow in significance every year. I commend the Informa Markets team for their unwavering commitment to this exhibition, which has become an invaluable part of Lagos State's health calendar. This kind of collaboration between government and private sector, showcased so strongly here at WHX, is exactly what we need to build an efficient, inclusive and forward-looking health system for all citizens of the country. ' Tom Coleman, Senior Exhibition Director at Informa Markets, remarked, ' This 12th edition of WHX marks a major milestone in our journey of shaping the healthcare narrative in Nigeria and across West Africa. What began over a decade ago as Medic West Africa and Medlab West Africa has now evolved into WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos, a unified, future-facing platform that bridges healthcare delivery, diagnostics, policy, and investment under one roof. This year, with over 500 exhibitors and a dynamic mix of global and regional voices, the exhibition floor itself became a powerful engine of innovation, showcasing solutions that will define the next chapter of healthcare across the continent. We are incredibly proud to continue supporting the healthcare ecosystem through meaningful connections, knowledge exchange, and tangible business outcomes.' Beyond the conferences and panel discussions, the event delivered exceptional value to attendees through a vibrant exhibition featuring the latest innovations from leading manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare service providers including S iemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, Roche, Uni-Medical, Crown Healthcare, Dedalus, amongst others. Numerous partnerships and business deals were initiated on-site, underscoring the role of WHX as a powerful commercial platform. Attendees also benefited from curated networking events designed to spark collaboration and drive long-term partnerships that will shape the future of healthcare in West Africa. WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos 2025 succeeded in providing a holistic, world-class experience that merged business, policy, and innovation. As West Africa accelerates its journey toward health equity and technological advancement, the WHX platform continues to serve as a cornerstone for progress and a beacon of opportunity for the entire healthcare ecosystem. Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New program leverages innovative approach to eradicating deadly disease: 'We are taking bold strides'
The government of Lagos, Nigeria, is pioneering a revolutionary approach to fighting malaria that offers new hope for communities worldwide dealing with this deadly disease. The recently unveiled Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination & Digitization Programme harnesses digital technology and strategic partnerships to transform how the disease is diagnosed, treated, and tracked. This innovative initiative has the potential to bring much-needed relief to a region that — despite having one of Nigeria's lowest malaria rates at under 3% — still reports roughly 900,000 cases annually. The program aims to drive this number down to below 1%, potentially saving thousands of lives each year, according to a report in PM News. "With this initiative, we are taking bold strides to eradicate malaria completely," Prof. Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health, said at a press briefing. "Our approach prioritizes scientific, digital, and data-driven strategies to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment of febrile illnesses." As Earth's temperatures rise, the mosquitoes that carry malaria can survive and reproduce in areas previously too cool for them, including at higher elevations and in regions that once experienced mosquito-free seasons. For communities in Lagos and beyond, this means increased exposure to infected mosquitoes, putting more families at risk, especially children and pregnant people, who are most vulnerable to severe malaria. The extended mosquito seasons also strain already limited health care resources and household budgets. Lagos' digital approach offers a timely and promising model for other regions facing similar challenges, as communities worldwide see mosquito-borne diseases appearing in new areas and lasting longer throughout the year. "Malaria is not just a health concern; it is an economic and social burden. The cost of treatment, coupled with indirect losses in productivity, amounts to billions of naira annually. A malaria-free Lagos is a healthier, wealthier Lagos," Abayomi stated. The success of Lagos' new malaria elimination effort could inspire similar programs globally, offering hope that human ingenuity and collaborative action can rise to meet the world's environmental challenges. When you're choosing health and beauty products, which of these factors is most important to you? Cost Brand name Ingredients Packaging Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
All you need sabi about diphtheria wey kill 12-year-old boy for Lagos King's College
Lagos State Ministry of Health don reveal say one 12-year-old boy die for one Lagos boarding school almost two weeks afta e first show early symptoms of diphtheria. Di mata happun for Kings College, Victoria Island annex. According to statement wey di Ministry put come outside dat first case bin present for dia school for February 22, by March 6 di boy die from myocardiatis for di Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Myocardites na one di complication wey di diphtheria toxin dey cause. But di Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi sha tok say make pipo no panic as dem don activate one Emergency Operations Comittee (EOC) to contain di outbreak and prevent more deaths. As at now, di Commissioer reveal say dem don dey closely observe 34 pipo wey bin get close contact to di dead student. E say, "from dis pipo, 14 bin get symptoms wey dey consistent to diphtheria. Di affected pikin dem don go di Children Emergency Unit for LUTH wia dem bin dey screened by heath practitioners". Dem find out say 12 of di pikin get early signs of Diphtheria and dem give dem antibiotics and di Diphtheria Ant toxoid Serum. On top di mata, di Ministry take di opportunity of di statement to announce say dem dey collabo wit Federal health agencies and go soon launch vaccination campaign wey go target consented students for di school, dis include both di ones for di Victoria Island annexe and di main school for Igbosere. As at September 2023, Diptheria bin infect ova 7,000 pipo and kill ova 400 around Nigeria by October dat number don pass 600. Dr Shuaibu Sani wey be sabi pesin on outbreak of diseases and how to stop dem (epidemiologist) tell BBC Pidgin say sabi dey worry sake of di rising cases of di disease. Dr Shuaibu wey dey work for Barau Dikko Hospital for Kaduna say anytime wey outbreak of disease happun na worrying time. "Outbreak no mean say di disease no bin dey before e just mean say e don pass di normal level wey we sabi and dey spread dey go." "At di moment Nigeria suppose dey worry about Diptheria becos di figures wey comot no dey good for viewing and show say more efforts dey needed to tackle di problem." Di doctor among oda reasons blame lack of joint efforts to tackle di problem. "Many pipo and groups dey wey dey do research and do oda tins to fight di disease but di problem be say no be joint efforts. All of us wey dey fight against dis disease suppose dey do am togeda." "For example now I fit do something wey be repetition of wetin somebody don do already but if all of us dey togeda, di fight go make more sense." Wetin be diphtheria Diphtheria na one serious bacterial infection wey dey affect di mucous membranes of di nose and throat. Diphtheria fit dey treated wit medicine and dey preventable wit vaccine. Di Lagos State goment say dem get 500,000 doses of di vaccine for stock. But if e don enter advance stage, e fit damage di heart, kidneys and nervous system. Even wit treatment, diphtheria fit dey deadly, especially for pikin dem. Diphtheria signs and symptoms usually start from two to five days afta pesin dey infected. Signs and symptoms fit include: No be evribodi wey get di infection dey sick or even some pipo if dem sick, di sickness no dey serious like dat. Na di pipo wey no dey sick dem dey call carriers of diphtheria becos even as dem no sick dem fit still spread am. Anoda type of diphtheria na wetin dem dey call Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria. E dey cause pain, redness and swelling wey similar to oda bacterial skin infections. Ulcer gray membrane cover also fit be sign of skin diphtheria. Although e dey more common for tropical. And e fit happun especially among pipo wey get poor hygiene and dey live for crowded conditions. Make you go see doctor shaparly if you or your pikin don dey exposed to pesin wey get diphtheria. If you no treat am, diphtheria fit lead to: Wit treatment, most pipo wey get diphtheria dey survive dis complications, but recovery often dey slow. Diphtheria dey fatal about 5% to 10% of di time. Rates of death dey higher for children under age 5 or adults older dan age 40. Wetin dey cause Diphtheria Diphtheria dey happun through one bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Di bacterium dey multiply for near di surface of di throat or skin. C. diphtheriae dey spread through: Airborne droplet. Wen pesin wey dey infected sneeze or cough and release mist of droplet wey dey contaminated , pipo wey dey near fit inhale C. diphtheriae. Diphtheria dey spread easily dis way, especially for place wey dey crowded. Contaminated pesin or house items. Sometimes pipo dey catch diphtheria wen touch infected pesin tins, like used tissues or hand towels, wey fit dey contaminated wit di bacteria. To touch infected pesin wound also fit transfer diphtheria-causing bacteria. Pipo wey dey at increased risk to catch diphtheria na:
