TODAY’S TRENDING GLOBAL ‘LIFE & HEALTH’ NEWS 31 October 2025

 

TODAY’S TRENDING GLOBAL ‘LIFE & HEALTH’ NEWS

 

Welcome to Today’s key “LIFE & HEALTH” - LIFE & HEALTH is a vibrant, thought-centre, exploring the meanings, challenges, & beauties of human existence. It offers deep reflections on life, faith, leadership, purpose, & service —guided by wisdom. LIFE & HEALTH is moderated by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje

 

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KEY TITLES/TOPICS:

1.       World Health Organization: 11 million lives lost each year: urgent action needed on neurological care

2.       Neurological conditions affect more than 40 % of global population, WHO says

3.       2025 World Mental Health Day: Depression, possession

4.       World Health Organization launches new country guidance for health emergency coordination

5.       States, private sector must drive health financing to achieve universal health coverage

6.       2025 World Mental Health Day: FG reaffirms financial protection, accessible services, equitable

7.       The Durban Promise – Moving Toward Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa

8.       One in six bacterial infections now resistant to treatment, says WHO 

9.       Experts say climate inaction is costing lives — new health report

10.   Global health is in crisis — who will step in to fix it?

11.   World Mental Health Day: 85 % unreached as Nigeria buckles under massive care gap

12.   Nigeria strengthens mental health response using public-health perspective

13.   Mental Health Day 2025: Bridging gaps in Nigeria’s crisis response

14.   20 million Nigerians live with mental health problems, says WHO

15.   FG urged to improve Nigerians’ access to mental health services

16.   Nigerian lawmakers launch probe into $4.6 billion health grants as disease deaths rise 

17.   Experts Seek Data-Driven Policies to Strengthen Nigeria Health Systems –

18.   EU, FG to convene Nigeria–EU Health Investment Forum

 

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Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje

CEO and Permanent Representative to the United Nations,

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) - CSOs Global Network and Think-tank for Health, Climate Actions and Development (Winner of the SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing Champion Award).

<https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2024/03/about-afrihealth-optonet-association_15.html>

National Coordinator,

Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria (CSP-SDGs Nigeria)

 

 

World Health Organization: 11 million lives lost each year: urgent action needed on neurological care

Link: https://www.who.int/news/item/14-10-2025-11-million-lives-lost-each-year-urgent-action-needed-on-neurological-care

Summary: A new report highlights that neurological disorders affect more than 40 % of the global population (3 billion + people) and cause over 11 million deaths annually; fewer than 1 in 3 countries have policies to address them.

 

The Durban Promise – Moving Toward Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa – https://africacdc.org/download/the-durban-promise-moving-toward-self-reliance-and-health-security-in-africa/

Summary: A key outcome document from the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) emphasising “self-reliance” of African health systems and push toward UHC and health security.

 

One in six bacterial infections now resistant to treatment, says WHO – https://www.ft.com/content/ae1dcc82-5421-4efb-8491-2505ac33b474

Summary: A global alarm on antimicrobial resistance (AMR): WHO data/report indicates that ~1 in every 6 bacterial infections is now resistant to standard treatment — a major threat to global health security.

 

Experts say climate inaction is costing lives — new health report – https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2025-climate-inaction-is-claiming-millions-of-lives-every-year--warns-new-lancet-countdown-report

Summary: A report (via WHO citing the The Lancet Commission) shows climate change is already causing millions of preventable deaths each year and underscores the urgent health implications of environmental inaction.

 

Global health is in crisis — who will step in to fix it? – https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03384-y

Summary: This article discusses how major global health funding is being cut and how that leaves significant gaps in health system support globally — raising questions about who will fill these gaps.

 

Neurological conditions affect more than 40 % of global population, WHO says

Link: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/10/neurological-conditions-affect-on-global-population-health-stories/

Summary: The piece outlines the global burden where over 3 billion people live with neurological disorders, and many countries lack adequate policies or workforce to address them.

World Economic Forum

 

World Health Organization launches new country guidance for health emergency coordination – https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2025-who-launches-new-country-guidance-for-health-emergency-coordination

Summary: WHO has issued a comprehensive National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework to help countries strengthen their preparedness and response to health emergencies (outbreaks, disasters, etc.). It includes tools like checklists, flowcharts, and adopts the “7-1-7” early response target

 

“2025 World Mental Health Day: Depression, possession (2)”

Link: https://thenationonlineng.net/2025-world-mental-health-day-depression-possession-2/

Summary: A commentary from Nigeria revisits how cultural misinterpretations (e.g., linking depression/mental illness to “possession”) still shape the response to mental health; it emphasises non-drug routes (diet, environment) but also underscores huge systemic gaps.

 

“World Mental Health Day: 85 % unreached as Nigeria buckles under massive care gap”

Link: https://guardian.ng/featured/world‐mental‐health‐day‐85-unreached‐as-nigeria‐buckles‐under‐massive‐care‐gap/

Summary: In Nigeria, of the millions living with mental health disorders, over 85 % do not have access to organised, reliable mental health services.

 

“Nigeria strengthens mental health response using public-health perspective”

Link: https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-strengthens-mental-health-response-using-public-health-perspective

Summary: Nigeria’s health ministry reaffirms commitment to improving mental‐health access across levels of care, especially for displaced persons, conflict-affected communities and other vulnerable groups.

 

“Mental Health Day 2025: Bridging gaps in Nigeria’s crisis response”

Link: https://www.icirnigeria.org/world‐mental‐health‐day‐bridging-gaps-in-nigerias-crisis-response/

Summary: The article focuses on the theme of the 2025 World Mental Health Day, emphasising how conflict, disasters and displacement in Nigeria exacerbate mental‐health burdens, and how services remain insufficient.

 

“20 million Nigerians live with mental health problems, says WHO”

Link: https://healthwise.punchng.com/20m-nigerians-live-with-mental-health-problems-says-who/

Summary: A report indicates that approximately 20 % of Nigeria’s population are estimated to live with mental‐health conditions, further highlighting the treatment and service access gaps.

healthwise.punchng.com

 

“FG urged to improve Nigerians’ access to mental health services”

Link: https://guardian.ng/news/fg-urged-to-improve-nigerians-access-to-mental-health-services/

Summary: Advocacy groups and experts are calling on the Nigerian federal government to prioritise mental health as a national public-health issue, not only in emergencies but in everyday health services.

 

Nigerian lawmakers launch probe into $4.6 billion health grants as disease deaths rise – https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/nigerian-lawmakers-launch-probe-into-46-bln-health-grants-disease-deaths-rise-2025-10-22/

Summary: Nigeria’s House of Representatives has opened an investigation into how ~$4.6 billion in international health-aid grants (2021-2025) were used, noting that despite large funding there remain high mortality rates from HIV, TB and malaria in Nigeria.

 

Experts Seek Data-Driven Policies To Strengthen Nigeria Health Systems – https://www.tvcnews.tv/experts-seek-data-driven-policies-to-strengthen-nigeria-health-systems/

Summary: Nigerian health stakeholders are calling for enhanced use of data, evaluation frameworks and stronger monitoring systems to drive policy and health system performance in Nigeria.

 

EU, FG to convene Nigeria–EU Health Investment Forum – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/eu-fg-to-convene-nigeria-eu-health-investment-forum/

Summary: The European Union and Nigerian Federal Government plan a forum to mobilise investments in Nigeria’s health sector — focusing on resilience, equity, and innovative financing.

 

States, private sector must drive health financing to achieve universal health coverage – https://healthwise.punchng.com/states-private-sector-must-drive-health-financing-to-achieve-universal-health-coverage-experts/

Summary: Experts argue that in Nigeria achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) will require active involvement of state governments and the private sector in health financing, not just federal government alone.

 

2025 World Mental Health Day: FG reaffirms financial protection, accessible services, equitable, affordable for all Nigerians – https://health.gov.ng/2025-world-mental-health-day-fg-reaffirms-financial-protection-accessible-services-equitable-affordable-for-all-nigerians/

Summary: On World Mental Health Day 2025, the Nigerian government reiterated its commitment to financial protection, accessible services and equity in mental health care for Nigerians.

 

 

Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje

CEO and Permanent Representative to the United Nations,

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) - CSOs Global Network and Think-tank for Health, Climate Actions and Development (Winner of the SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing Champion Award).

<https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2024/03/about-afrihealth-optonet-association_15.html>

National Coordinator,

Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria (CSP-SDGs Nigeria)