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Expert Warns Everyday Stress Could Spark Next Health Crisis

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Health Crisis

Boluwatife Ojewande warns that everyday stress, poor housing, and unstable income could trigger a slow-building public health crisis

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Health communication and social work expert Boluwatife Ojewande has warned that the next major public health crisis may not emerge from a single virus or sudden outbreak, but could develop quietly from the cumulative pressures of everyday life.

Also read: Nigeria expands free health tests for people living with HIV/AIDS

Ojewande, speaking from Lagos on Monday, highlighted factors such as unstable income, job stress, pollution, unsafe housing, high transportation costs, and delays in accessing healthcare as drivers of a gradual, systemic health emergency.

“The greatest threat to public health today is not a single illness; it is based more on the way everyday life is organised around constant strain,” she said.

The expert explained that these pressures contribute to rising mental health challenges, preventable chronic diseases, burnout, and avoidable hospital admissions.

“Health emergencies rarely begin from zero. They grow from existing vulnerabilities. A missed paycheck, a heatwave, or a power outage can trigger a chain reaction,” Ojewande said.

She noted that in Nigeria, many households now delay medical care due to the cost of tests, drugs, and hospital visits, leading to more severe conditions and added strain on hospitals already struggling with staff shortages.

Ojewande also linked climate change and economic hardship to the growing crisis, citing extreme heat, flooding, poor air quality, and other environmental hazards that exacerbate respiratory illnesses, heat-related conditions, and infectious diseases.

“A community with stable housing and accessible medical care may bend, but it will not break. However, a community without those foundations can collapse, and that collapse may happen slowly, silently, until it becomes impossible to ignore,” she said.

The expert emphasised that traditional public health models focused on emergency response, stockpiles, and rapid reaction teams are no longer sufficient.

Preventing future crises requires sustained investment in daily life conditions, including mental healthcare, stable housing, clean air and water, strong primary healthcare systems, worker protections, and preventive care.

“In public discussions, we admire resilience, but resilience has a breaking point. People cannot be expected to survive under extreme pressure forever. When exhaustion becomes normal, systems collapse in silence,” Ojewande warned.

Recent reports, she said, show rising rates of unmanaged chronic diseases, growing demand for mental health services, and increased emergency admissions for preventable conditions like hypertension, diabetes complications, and stress-related heart problems.

“The next health crisis may not come from a virus,” Ojewande said. “It may appear as mental breakdowns, substance-related harm, children struggling in school, or adults unable to work due to untreated chronic illness.”

She urged policymakers to broaden their definition of public health threats, stating that financial stability, access to clean water, safe environments, adequate rest, and reliable healthcare are essential tools for preventing emergencies.

Also read: Nigeria urges registration for National Health Fellows

Ojewande concluded: “The most effective response to the next health crisis may happen before it is recognised. Public health should not be measured only by how we respond to emergencies. It should be measured by whether we reduce the conditions that make emergencies unavoidable.”

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GFF@25 Medical Mission Begins October 9 Across Ogun LGAs

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The Gateway Front Foundation’s GFF@25 Medical Mission will begin on October 9 and run through October 24, 2026, bringing free specialist medical services to residents across Ogun State as part of activities marking the foundation’s 25th anniversary.

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The 14-day intervention is being organised by the Gateway Front Foundation in partnership with Sharing Hope Medical Mission from the United States, Sharing Hope and Care Foundation and Redeemer’s Health Village. The programme is sponsored by Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

The mission is expected to provide free major and minor surgeries, eye care, gynaecological procedures, orthopaedic treatment, plastic and burn surgery, as well as other specialist medical services. Organisers say more than 15,000 patients are expected to benefit from the programme.

More than 50 doctors from the United States are expected to participate in the mission, while local healthcare practitioners are also expected to receive training as part of the broader programme.

Ahead of the main intervention, the foundation has already begun medical screening and clinical assessments in parts of Ogun. On September 21, residents in Sagamu were screened across four centres, while another exercise was held on September 30 at Redemption City and Simawa to identify cases requiring specialised and surgical treatment.
The screening exercises covered conditions including cataracts, pterygium, dental cases, tumours, lipomas, ganglions, hernias, fibroids, vesicovaginal fistula, prostate conditions, orthopaedic problems, fractures, dislocations, amputations, diabetes and gastroenterology-related ailments. Selected beneficiaries are expected to proceed to the surgical phase of the programme.

To widen access and reduce pressure on a single location, the foundation has scheduled screening and medical interventions across several Local Government Areas, according to the programme schedule released by the organisers.

The listed locations include Ijebu North, Ijebu North East, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ogun Waterside, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ijebu East, Remo North and the RCCG City area.

The schedule is as follows:

October 9: Ijebu North, Kabiesi Solaja Hall and Bojowa Street, Ago-Iwoye
October 10: Ijebu North East, GFF Care Centre, Erunwon
October 12: Sagamu, Asoludero Hall and Ogijo
October 13: Ijebu Ode, Obalofin Hall
October 14: Ogun Waterside, Abigi Community Town Hall
October 15: Ikenne
October 16: Odogbolu
October 17: Ijebu East, Hazelway Hotel, Ijebu Mushin
October 18: Remo North, Ode-Remo Main Market
October 9, 10 and 12–16: RCCG City/Health Village area

The Redeemers Health Village in Mowe, Redemption City, will serve as the main location for cases requiring surgery, according to the organisers. This arrangement is intended to provide sufficient space and facilities for surgical procedures.

Monitoring officers have also been assigned to the various locations to coordinate activities, manage the flow of beneficiaries and support the smooth delivery of the medical services.

The GFF@25 Medical Mission is one of the major programmes marking the foundation’s 25th anniversary. The Gateway Front Foundation, established by Daniel, has over the years undertaken healthcare and other community-focused interventions, including medical outreaches and eye-care initiatives.

Residents requiring medical attention have been encouraged by the organisers to visit the nearest designated venue on the appropriate date for screening and assessment.

The foundation said the anniversary programme is intended to extend its humanitarian activities to more communities, with healthcare forming a major part of the GFF@25 interventions.

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves 95% Salary Increase for Health Workers

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The Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Dauda Lawal, has approved a 95 percent salary increase for health workers across the state.

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The approval, which adopts the Federal Government’s Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), is aimed at improving the welfare of health workers and strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.

The development follows an earlier increase by the state government to bring the salaries of medical personnel in Zamfara in line with those of their counterparts in the Federal Government.

With the new approval, a health worker currently earning ₦100,000 will now take home ₦195,000, while someone on ₦200,000 will earn ₦390,000. A worker on ₦300,000 will now receive ₦585,000, and those on ₦500,000 and ₦1,000,000 will earn ₦975,000 and ₦1,950,000 respectively.

In effect, the 95 percent increase means the existing salary of every affected health worker is almost doubled.

The approval is expected to boost morale, attract and retain qualified health professionals, and ultimately improve healthcare delivery across the state.

It also comes shortly after the state government recruited new health workers last week, with the newly engaged staff set to benefit from the new salary structure.

Health workers in the state have since expressed appreciation to Governor Lawal for the gesture, describing it as a major boost to the sector.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and the delivery of quality healthcare services to the people of Zamfara State.

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NAFDAC urged to probe KissKids diaper claims

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NAFDAC

Consumer advocates call for an independent quality assessment after a viral TikTok video alleged foreign material was found inside a baby diaper

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