‘LIFE and HEALTH’ – November 3, 2025
‘LIFE and HEALTH’ – November 3, 2025
Welcome to this edition of 'LIFE & HEALTH'.
'LIFE & HEALTH' is a vibrant, thought-centre is a vibrant,
thought-centre, exploring the meanings, challenges, and beauties of human
existence. It offers deep reflections on life, faith, leadership, purpose, and
service —guided by wisdom. ‘LIFE and HEALTH’ is prepared, edited, produced, and
moderated by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje; and published by Afrihealth Information
Projects/Afrihealth Optonet Association.
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EDITORIAL – LIFE & HEALTH – 3 NOVEMBER 2025 page
2
KEY TITLES/TOPICS:
1.
Cholera surge across over 20 African countries — large multi-country
outbreak
2. Sudan — overlapping outbreaks of cholera,
dengue, measles, diphtheria; and attacks on health facilities
3. Africa: push for local
vaccine/therapeutic manufacturing (Africa)
4. Africa Regional Dialogue on Global
Health Reform — Kigali (Africa)
5. U.S. FDA review: fluoride
supplements safety advisory — Americas
6. Regional health security — PAHO’s
2025 meeting: antimicrobial resistance & multi-disease strategies
7. Avian (H5Nx) influenza resurging
across North America and Europe — poultry & food supply concerns
8. Dengue surges in the Caribbean &
Americas — climate and funding drivers
9. Mpox transmission increases in parts
of the world (Africa, Europe, Asia)
10. Food systems & health — industry
moves in feed/food production in China (supply chain implications)
11. Chikungunya surveillance — Hong Kong
reports imported and local cases
12. WHO mRNA Technology Transfer to Africa,
Latin America and Asia — Phase 2 roll-out for local manufacturing
13. NHS trials AI to speed and
personalise prostate cancer care (UK / Europe)
14. Global medicine & supply
shortages — Europe & beyond
15. Health supply-chain resilience &
RFID/tech solutions (Europe, Global)
16. One Health Day (3 Nov) — global/European
focus on integrated health
17. Caribbean — climate-driven health
risks (flooding, mold, vector disease) for Sept–Nov season
18. Australia — aged-care reforms and
health funding debates as reforms take effect
19. Dengue and vector outbreaks across
the Pacific Islands (Pacific/Oceania)
20. Heatwaves & extreme heat in
Australia/Oceania — major public-health threat
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Dr. Uzodinma
Adirieje
Global Health and Dev’t Projects
Consultant | Conferences Organizer | Trainer| Facilitator | Researcher |
M&E Expert | Civil Society Leader | Policy Advocate
Phone/WhatsApp/Telegram - +2348034725905 Email
– druzoadirieje2015@gmail.com
Writer, Columnist, Blogger, Reviewer,
Editor, and Author
https://druzodinmadirieje.blogspot.com
EDITORIAL – LIFE & HEALTH – 3
NOVEMBER 2025
In Nigeria today, the health sector stands at a crossroads — the
urgent need for resilient systems meets recurrent collapse in delivery. The
recent commentary by Nigeria Health Watch reminds us that Nigeria is at a
critical juncture in advancing health financing reforms to achieve Universal
Health Coverage.
Meanwhile, deep-rooted systemic failures continue to manifest: weak
infrastructure, inadequate staffing and dire life-expectancy statistics.
Consider this: A country with life expectancy hovering around 55
years, is not just lagging, but facing a crisis in national productivity,
equity and social stability. The question is: Why does the disconnect between
policy and delivery persist? One answer lies in the brain-drain of health
professionals. As variously documented, Nigeria is losing its health workforce
including doctors and nurses in alarming numbers — turning a health-system into
a hollow shell.
Compounding this is the truth that even when patients reach
facilities, many of those facilities may not deliver. From equipment shortages
to delayed financing, the structural neglect is palpable. The mortality rate in
Nigeria is at an all-time high not because there are some natural disasters but
because the healthcare system has continuously been grossly under-funded, as if
this underfunding is a government policy.
In order to address these maladies, we must:
1. Commit to investment — not just in buildings, but in people: the
healthcare managers, doctors, nurses, lab‐technologists, community-health
workers whose daily toil often goes unseen;
2. Enforce accountability through professionalized monitoring and
evaluation (M&E) frameworks — transparency in health financing, tracking
performance, and ensuring that policies translate into outcomes at the ward
level;
3. Strengthen primary health care (PHC) through intentionally
well-funded universal health coverage (UHC) — the frontline where most
Nigerians need care, yet where the system is weakest. The Midwives Service
Scheme and other programs provided hope, but they require sustained support and
follow-through; and
4. Challenge ourselves as citizens, communities and leaders to move
beyond apathy. Health is not a sector to be left to governments alone — it is a
shared responsibility. When lives are shortened, generations are lost. When
young women die in childbirth, the fabric of society frays.
Through this edition of Life & Health, let us recognize
that the health of a nation is its most precious asset. We cannot wait. Now is
the time for bold action, collective will and unwavering oversight so that
Nigerians may not only live, but live well.
AFRICA
- Cholera
surge across over 20 African countries — large multi-country outbreak
Cholera outbreaks across 20+ African countries have surged in 2025, with hundreds of thousands reported cases and thousands of deaths. Conflict, flooding, displaced populations and weak WASH (water, sanitation) systems are driving widespread transmission; continent-level response and vaccination campaigns are ongoing but under strain.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/cholera-death-toll-in-africa-surpasses-6-800-health-body/3731342 - Sudan
— overlapping outbreaks of cholera, dengue, measles, diphtheria; and
attacks on health facilities
Sudan faces overlapping outbreaks (cholera, dengue, measles, diphtheria) while conflict-driven attacks on hospitals limit response. Health system collapse and mass displacement are elevating maternal/child risk and complicating vaccine campaigns and outbreak control. Humanitarian access and protection of health workers remain urgent.
https://africacdc.org/news-item/africa-cdc-mobilises-emergency-public-health-response-after-hospital-attack-in-sudan/ - Africa:
push for local vaccine/therapeutic manufacturing (Africa)
African leaders and health ministers are pressing for continent-based manufacturing and regional supply chains to reduce dependency on imports and improve equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics — policy discussions at Kigali aim to advance concrete steps.
https://govbusinessjournal.com/african-ministers-and-leaders-call-for-bold-reform-of-the-global-health-system-says-africa-must-lead/. govbusinessjournal.com - Africa
Regional Dialogue on Global Health Reform — Kigali (Africa)
African ministers press for Africa-led global health reform at the Kigali dialogue (3–5 Nov), urging stronger continental manufacturing, governance reforms, and finance mechanisms to reduce dependence and advance health sovereignty — a pivotal moment for African leadership on global health architecture.
https://independent.ng/african-leaders-unite-to-demand-bold-africa-led-reform-of-global-health-system/. Independent Newspaper Nigeria
THE AMERICAS
- U.S.
FDA review: fluoride supplements safety advisory — Americas
The FDA issued a new analysis restricting some kids’ fluoride supplements, citing limited dental benefits and emerging safety concerns (gut, weight, cognition signals). Clinicians and parents are advised to follow local water fluoride guidance and reassess routine supplement use.
https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/11/02/fda-restricts-use-kids-fluoride-supplements-citing-emerging-health-risks/. https://www.wwnytv.com - Regional
health security — PAHO’s 2025 meeting: antimicrobial resistance &
multi-disease strategies
At PAHO’s annual meeting, leaders prioritized regional health security, calling for unified responses to antimicrobial resistance, improved outbreak readiness, vaccine equity, and AI for public-health acceleration. The sessions emphasize multi-disease elimination strategies, pointing to integrated systems over single-disease responses to protect populations across the Americas. https://www.paho.org/en/news/2-11-2025-paho-calls-stronger-regional-health-security-2025-annual-meeting-american-public - Avian
(H5Nx) influenza resurging across North America and Europe — poultry &
food supply concerns
H5N1/H5Nx bird-flu strains are resurging in poultry across North America and Europe, threatening turkey and egg supplies for holiday seasons and raising low-but-real concerns about viral evolution. Agricultural controls, farm biosecurity and One Health surveillance are in the spotlight.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-bird-flu-is-surging-again-and-what-it-means-for-public-health/. Scientific American+1 - Dengue
surges in the Caribbean & Americas — climate and funding drivers
Dengue cases remain elevated across the Caribbean and the Americas, driven by warmer, wetter seasons and gaps in vector control. Health ministries and PAHO urge strengthened surveillance, community vector control, early warning systems, and equitable access to clinical care as severe cases and deaths have risen sharply in recent reporting periods. Full link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/11/dengue-fever-deaths-caribbean-americas
ASIA
- Mpox
transmission increases in parts of the world (Africa, Europe, Asia)
WHO regional data show new mpox transmission clusters and rising case counts in some regions. Authorities emphasize surveillance, clinical awareness, contact tracing/targeted vaccination of contacts, and community engagement to interrupt transmission while clarifying clinical guidance.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/who-raises-concern-as-new-mpox-strain-spreads-to-more-countries/. Vanguard News
- Food
systems & health — industry moves in feed/food production in China
(supply chain implications)
Food-value-chain investments, like Louis Dreyfus Company’s new feed-protein line in Tianjin, affect nutrition, food security and supply resilience. Such developments influence animal-health, price stability, and downstream public-health nutrition — relevant as climate and geopolitical shifts strain food systems.
- Chikungunya
surveillance — Hong Kong reports imported and local cases
Hong Kong’s health authority reported ongoing chikungunya surveillance with recent imported cases and a small number of local transmissions this year. Authorities emphasize mosquito control, traveler advisories, and clinical vigilance to limit local spread while strengthening laboratory confirmation and patient-care guidance. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/02/P2025110200544.htm - WHO
mRNA Technology Transfer to Africa, Latin America and Asia — Phase 2
roll-out for local manufacturing
WHO/Medicines Patent Pool Phase-2 of the mRNA technology-transfer programme is scaling; Afrigen-hub-led transfers aim to expand regional manufacturing capacity for vaccines and tailored mRNA products across Africa, Latin America and Asia — a strategic move for equity and pandemic preparedness.
Full link: https://www.who.int/initiatives/mrna-technology-transfer-%28mrna-tt%29-programme.
EUROPE
- NHS
trials AI to speed and personalise prostate cancer care (UK / Europe)
The NHS is piloting an AI biopsy and MRI analysis tool (ArteraAI/other platforms) to give personalised risk scores and guide treatment decisions. If trial data confirm benefit and cost-effectiveness, AI could cut wait times, reduce over-treatment and improve outcomes — raising questions about validation, equity and governance.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/03/nhs-hospitals-to-test-ai-tool-that-helps-diagnose-and-treat-prostate-cancer. The Guardian+1 - Global
medicine & supply shortages — Europe & beyond
Reports cite fragile supply chains and hundreds of medicines in short supply across Europe; causes include manufacturing, quality, packaging, and distribution challenges — this raises alarms for winter antibiotic shortages and preparedness planning.
https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/insights/healthcare-management/medicine-shortages-strike-again-can-rfid-help- - Health
supply-chain resilience & RFID/tech solutions (Europe, Global)
Industry and health systems explore RFID and tech to track medicines and reduce shortages; pilots aim to improve visibility, but require investment and regulatory alignment to scale effectively across regions.
https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/insights/healthcare-management/medicine-shortages-strike-again-can-rfid-help- - One
Health Day (3 Nov) — global/European focus on integrated health
One Health Day events (3 Nov) highlight linkages between human, animal and environmental health — policymakers use this moment to push zoonoses surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and cross-sectoral action after years of spillover-driven outbreaks. Sub-national proclamations amplify local One-Health plans.
https://www.nj.gov/health/news/2025/approved/20251029a.shtml. NJ.gov+1
CAPO (Caribbean, Australia, Pacific, Oceania)
- Caribbean
— climate-driven health risks (flooding, mold, vector disease) for
Sept–Nov season
Caribbean regional climate centers warn of humid, flood-prone conditions raising risks for vector-borne disease, respiratory problems from mold, water contamination, and mental-health burdens. Public-health guidance emphasizes surveillance, community messaging, and health sector readiness during the hurricane/seasonal rains.
https://rcc.cimh.edu.bb/health-implications-for-september-to-november-2025/
- Australia
— aged-care reforms and health funding debates as reforms take effect
Australia implemented a new wave of aged-care reforms starting November 1, touching refundable deposits and provider funding, amid concerns about capacity, hospital ramping and waiting lists. State and federal tensions over funding and delivery models highlight risks to elder care and system pressures.
- Dengue
and vector outbreaks across the Pacific Islands (Pacific/Oceania)
Climate-driven spread has caused record dengue outbreaks in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga (2025), straining health services. Rising temperatures and rainfall patterns expand mosquito habitat — urgent vector control, surveillance and community response are needed.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/dengue-fever-outbreaks-samoa-fiji-tonga-climate-crisis. The Guardian - Heatwaves
& extreme heat in Australia/Oceania — major public-health threat
Northern, eastern and southern Australia face prolonged and intense heatwaves this season; heat-related illness, worker productivity loss and worsening chronic disease outcomes are reported. Heat-plan activation, community protection measures, and heat-resilient workplace policies are urgent priorities.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-25/heatwave-longreach-mt-isa-northern-australia-weather-deaths/105932230. ABC+1
THE PUBLISHER
Afrihealth Information Projects
(AIP)/Afrihealth
Optonet Association (AHOA) is a Nigeria-based civil society organization
and international think-tank working across Africa and the Global South. It
focuses on the intersections of health, environment, energy, climate change,
nutrition, and sustainable development. As the publisher of Life &
Health, AHOA provides credible, evidence-based, and people-centred
information that promotes holistic wellbeing and sustainable livelihoods. Through
Life & Health, AHOA amplifies voices, innovations, and solutions
from communities, experts, and policymakers—highlighting the links between global
health, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The publication
reflects AHOA’s mission to advance integrated development through knowledge
sharing, advocacy, and partnerships for achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). As a multidisciplinary knowledge platform, Life & Health
embodies AHOA’s values of equity, inclusion, and service to humanity. It
educates readers on critical global trends—ranging from climate resilience and
health systems strengthening to gender equity and renewable energy—while
promoting African leadership and perspectives in global discourse. Guided by
the principles of integrity, collaboration, and innovation, AHOA will continue
to use Life & Health to inspire action, inform policy, and drive
community empowerment for a healthier, more sustainable, and peaceful world.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is the Producer and Editor-in-Chief
of Life & Health, the global development and wellness publication of
the Afrihealth Information Projects/Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA). A
renowned Nigerian health systems consultant, development expert, project/programme/policy
evaluator, health economist, and civil society leader, Dr. Adirieje brings over
three decades of professional experience in global health, policy analysis,
sustainable development, and social transformation. As Producer and
Editor-in-Chief, he guides Life & Health in advancing informed
dialogue, research dissemination, and evidence-based advocacy across Africa and
the Global South. His editorial vision integrates health, climate change,
energy, environment, and socio-economic development—reflecting his conviction
that human wellbeing and planetary health are inseparable. A pioneer Fellow and
former National President of the Nigerian Association of Evaluators, Dr.
Adirieje is the CEO and Permanent Representative of AHOA; President of African
Network of Civil Society Organizations (ANCSO), President of the Society for
Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN);
and Chairperson of the Global Civil Society Consortium on Climate Change
(GCSCCC). A Certified Management Consultant and Management Trainer/Facilitator,
he has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s national Monitoring and
Evaluation policy and SDG implementation frameworks. Through Life &
Health, Dr. Adirieje champions integrity, equity, and service—using the
power of information to inspire action, shape policy, and empower communities
toward healthier lives, resilient environments, and sustainable local/global
development.
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