NMMA Most Innovative Reporter of the year/Public Health Reporter of the year | HIV/AIDS+SRHR advocate | Health Editor Vanguard Newspaper | Great father &husband
Vancouver, British Columbia
Joined December 2008
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Bundibugyo Ebola: Early detection, isolation key to containing Nigeria’s outbreak – Expert vanguardngr.com/2026/10/bund… – at Lagos, Nigeria
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
🚨 BREAKTHROUGH: Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a new enamel-repairing gel that starts restoring teeth in just 2 WEEKS.
This could replace fillings and change dental treatment worldwide, with use expected around late 2026–2027.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
BREAKING: The price of a 120kg bag of fresh onions in Nigeria has jumped from ₦30,000 in April 2026 to ₦300,000 in October 2026.
That means the price has gone up by 900% in just six months.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
A new drug only switches on inside cancer cells and destroys them — leaving healthy cells entirely intact
This means fewer of the side effects that make treatment so brutal.
Many cancer cells give off unusually high amounts of carbon monoxide, a byproduct of their stressed metabolism, while healthy cells make very little. A team at RIKEN in Japan led by chemist Katsunori Tanaka turned that difference into a trap.
They tucked a palladium catalyst, a metal compound that speeds up chemical reactions, inside albumin, a common blood protein that shields it on the way into cells. Once inside, the catalyst uses the cell's own carbon monoxide to assemble phenanthridinone, a compound that kills cells.
The drug formed in liver, cervical, breast and lung cancer cells, but not in healthy cells.
A modified version made an even more toxic compound that damaged liver cancer cells from within.
Because the drug is only built where the gas is, the idea could one day target tumors while sparing healthy tissue, which is what causes many chemotherapy side effects.
So far this has only been shown in cells in a dish, and animal tests are next.
source: Kawai, M., et al. (2026). Harnessing endogenous carbon monoxide for cancer-selective drug synthesis. Nature Communications.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
Price of a 120kg bag of onions surges from ₦30,000 in April to ₦300,000 in October 2026, marking a 900% increase in six months.
⚠️Never replace your medic with AI ❌❌❌ – at Lagos, Nigeria
Woman, 31, dies after ChatGPT convinced her it was a good idea to change medication dosage trib.al/eS02A8k
The pressure of spending on food in the household is unmanageable for LMICs ... – at Lagos, Nigeria
🛒 Share of consumer spending that goes to food
🔴 Highest
1. 🇳🇬 Nigeria: 56%
2. 🇲🇲 Myanmar: 55%
3. 🇱🇦 Laos: 54%
4. 🇰🇪 Kenya: 49%
5. 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan: 46%
6. 🇹🇿 Tanzania: 46%
7. 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan: 45%
8. 🇨🇲 Cameroon: 43%
9. 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire: 43%
10. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: 42%
🟢 Among the lowest
🇺🇸 United States: 6%
🇸🇬 Singapore: 6%
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: 8%
🇮🇪 Ireland: 8%
🇨🇦 Canada: 10%
🇦🇺 Australia: 10%
🇦🇪 UAE: 11%
🇩🇪 Germany: 12%
🇳🇴 Norway: 12%
🇧🇷 Brazil: 12%
Covers food bought for home consumption only. Food eaten away from home, alcohol and tobacco are excluded. Figures are rounded.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2025
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
⚠️ New Tennessee legislation designates mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as “biological weapons of mass destruction.”
It could be the end of the vaccines in the state.
In fact, if it passes, Senate Bill 1949, titled the 'mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act,' would criminalize the manufacturing, possession, and distribution of all modified messenger RNA products within the state.
Proponents argue the legislation is necessary to address public safety concerns, while health professionals and research institutions warn that the proposal distorts medical science and threatens critical therapeutic advancements.
Beyond viral immunizations, scientists emphasize that restricting mRNA platforms could block medical breakthroughs in treatments for cancer, HIV, and genetic disorders. As the legal debate expands across state legislatures, experts warn that criminalizing medical technology undermines public health infrastructure and sets a precedent that politicizes evidence-based medicine.
This legislative move makes Tennessee the third state to introduce measures reclassifying mRNA technology under bioweapons statutes.
source: Tennessee General Assembly. (2026). Senate Bill 1949: mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act. 114th General Assembly.
Ebola: NCDC defends patient’s evacuation, rejects claims of no confidence vanguardngr.com/2026/10/ebol… – at Lagos, Nigeria
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
Why do medical students face some of the highest levels of mental and emotional strain in the medical profession?
At the Vanguard Mental Health Summit, Mr Olalekan Atitola, representing Prof. Afekhide Ernest (President NMA) explains the pressures medical students face, from demanding academic schedules and intense clinical training to the emotional toll of preparing for a career centred on saving lives.
Missed the conversation? Catch all the key moments here at ; youtu.be/sNZiYJpxkuA
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
The Nigerian 🇳🇬 Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to empower the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to award A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees in clinical medicine, dentistry and related disciplines.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
Nigeria: The Government of Nigeria reactivated Ebola disease-related screening measures for all international travelers, including possible quarantine. Travelers will be screened by communicable disease control officers at the international ports of entry (air, land, and sea) in Nigeria and could be subject to mandatory quarantine or self-isolation for at least 21 days. More at: ng.usembassy.gov/health-aler…
ALT Department of State Health Alert graphic for Nigeria.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
Since launching HPV vaccines in 2014, South Africa is reporting an 80% drop in infections with the HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers. Here’s how school-based HPV vaccination programmes are driving success in a country with one of the world’s highest burdens of cervical cancer: bit.ly/4BonuVu
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
🧬 Cancer May Be Changing Its Sugar Coat to Hide From the Immune System
Cancer cells may have a clever way to escape the body's defenses—and it involves something surprisingly sweet: sugar.
A protein called MUC1 sits on the surface of many cells, where it helps protect them. But cancer can change the sugar molecules attached to this protein, creating an unusual coating that behaves differently from the one found on healthy cells.
These changes are more than a simple disguise. They can influence how immune cells recognize and interact with tumors.
One important player is the macrophage, an immune cell that normally helps defend the body. Under certain conditions, signals from tumors can influence these cells in ways that help cancer survive instead of being effectively attacked.
Scientists are investigating how these altered sugar structures affect the relationship between cancer cells and the immune system. Understanding this molecular trick could help researchers explore new ways to make tumors easier for immune defenses to recognize.
**The mystery is written on the surface of the cell—and decoding it could reveal new possibilities for cancer treatment.**
Source:
*Nature Communications.* (2026). Research article on MUC1 glycosylation and cancer immune evasion.
ALT 🧬 *Cancer May Be Changing Its Sugar Coat to Hide From the Immune System Cancer cells may have a clever way to escape the body's defenses—and it involves something surprisingly sweet: sugar. A protein called MUC1 sits on the surface of many cells, where it helps protect them. But cancer can change the sugar molecules attached to this protein, creating an unusual coating that behaves differently from the one found on healthy cells. These changes are more than a simple disguise. They can influence how immune cells recognize and interact with tumors. One important player is the macrophage, an immune cell that normally helps defend the body. Under certain conditions, signals from tumors can influence these cells in ways that help cancer survive instead of being effectively attacked. Scientists are investigating how these altered sugar structures affect the relationship between cancer cells and the immune system.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
The World Health Organisation has clarified that Nigeria 🇳🇬 has not been declared Ebola-free, despite having no active confirmed case in the country following the medical evacuation of its index patient. The patient was flown to Switzerland by air ambulance on Monday, October 26, for further medical treatment. Her husband was also evacuated.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
🧠 Mind as receiver, not creator.
Psychologists are exploring a fascinating idea that challenges how we understand the human mind. Thoughts may not be something we actively produce. Instead, they may arise, arrive, or surface from deeper subconscious processes beyond conscious control. Rather than being authored moment by moment, thoughts appear automatically, often without warning or intention.
Brain imaging studies show that neural activity linked to a thought begins milliseconds before a person becomes aware of it. This suggests awareness comes after the thought has already formed, not before. Meditation research supports this too, showing how thoughts emerge spontaneously when the mind is quiet, then fade when attention shifts.
This perspective changes how we relate to anxiety, creativity, and self-judgment. If thoughts are received rather than chosen, then observing them without attachment becomes easier. Mental clarity may come not from controlling the mind, but from listening to it with awareness.
The mind may be less like a writer and more like a radio, tuning into signals already in motion.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
A team of leading Ebola scientists will travel to Nigeria to help investigate how the country’s first patient in more than a decade got infected, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said. reut.rs/48eJ2X9
Ebola free: Nigeria targets Dec 7 provisional date...
Following the imported Ebola index patient’s medical evacuation from Nigeria today, 26 October, our immediate priorities remain active monitoring of all identified contacts, prompt investigation of alerts and strengthened readiness across our health facilities.
If no further confirmed or probable cases are detected, Nigeria could progress towards declaring this outbreak over under @WHO criteria, potentially as early as 7 December 2026. This date remains provisional, subject to @NCDCgov and WHO validating the 42-day countdown. Any further case would require a fresh countdown in accordance with those criteria.
Our teams, working with FCTA and state health authorities and our partners, remain focused on containment and preventing community transmission. I ask Nigerians to remain calm, cooperate with contact-tracing teams and follow regular updates from @NCDCgov and @Fmohnigeria.
@OfficialFCTA @WHONigeria @WHOAFRO @WHO @AfricaCDC @DrPavelUrsu @ProfJanabi @CDCgov @Dr_JeanKaseya @christian_happi @alikothe3rd @SalakoIziaq
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the patient and her spouse arrived safely in Switzerland today. She is receiving care at Geneva University Hospitals @hug_ge, while her spouse is in isolation at University Hospital Zurich @Unispital_USZ.
In our telephone conversation, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation for the care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the close cooperation between our authorities and @WHO that made the evacuation possible.
I thank the clinical and public-health teams in Nigeria and Switzerland, @NCDCgov, @BAG_OFSP_UFSP, @EDI_DFI and @WHONigeria for their cooperation, and wish the patient continued recovery.
Here in Nigeria, contact monitoring, investigation of alerts and other containment measures continue, with support from @AfricaCDC and @WHOAFRO. We will provide regular updates through @NCDCgov and @Fmohnigeria.
@OfficialFCTA @DrPavelUrsu @ProfJanabi @CDCgov @Dr_JeanKaseya @christian_happi @alikothe3rd @SalakoIziaq
No active Ebola cases, but Nigeria not yet Ebola free, 52 contacts under monitoring ...
Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland.
The reasons for the evacuation are:
✅ Both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens.
✅ The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition.
On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together.
With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases.
However, vigilance remains critical. Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband.
Congratulations once again to everyone involved. This is a proud moment demonstrating African expertise, resilience, and leadership in public health.
----------------------------
Ce matin, la patiente atteinte d’Ebola au Nigéria et son contact, qui est également son époux, ont été évacués médicalement vers la Suisse.
Les raisons de cette évacuation sont les suivantes :
✅ La patiente et son mari sont tous deux citoyens suisses.
✅ La patiente est cliniquement stable. L’équipe médicale nigériane a réussi à la prendre en charge durant la phase aiguë de la maladie et à stabiliser son état.
Au nom de l’OMS et de tous les partenaires, je félicite chaleureusement le Gouvernement du Nigéria, les agents de santé, les cliniciens, les intervenants d’urgence et toutes les personnes impliquées dans la réponse. C’est une réalisation remarquable et une preuve de ce que l’Afrique peut accomplir lorsque nous travaillons ensemble.
Avec l’évacuation de la patiente et de son mari, le Nigéria ne compte actuellement plus de cas d’Ebola.
Cependant, la vigilance reste essentielle. Le Nigéria poursuivra le suivi rapproché de 52 contacts, tandis que la Suisse assurera la prise en charge continue de la patiente et le suivi du 53ᵉ contact, son mari.
Félicitations encore à toutes celles et ceux qui ont contribué à cette réussite. Ce moment est une fierté, démontrant l’expertise, la résilience et le leadership africains en santé publique.
----------------------------
Hoje de manhã, a paciente com doença pelo vírus Ebola na Nigéria e o seu contacto, que é também o seu marido, foram evacuados por via médica para a Suíça.
A evacuação deve-se aos seguintes motivos:
✅ Tanto a paciente como o seu marido são cidadãos suíços.
✅ A paciente encontra-se clinicamente estável. A equipa médica nigeriana conseguiu prestar-lhe cuidados durante a fase aguda da doença e estabilizar o seu estado de saúde.
Em nome da OMS e de todos os parceiros, felicito calorosamente o Governo da Nigéria, os profissionais de saúde, os clínicos, as equipas de resposta a emergências e todas as pessoas envolvidas na resposta. Esta é uma conquista notável e uma prova do que África pode alcançar quando trabalhamos em conjunto.
Com a evacuação da paciente e do seu marido, a Nigéria não tem atualmente nenhum caso de doença pelo vírus Ebola.
No entanto, é fundamental manter a vigilância. A Nigéria continuará a acompanhar de perto 52 contactos, enquanto a Suíça assumirá a responsabilidade pela continuidade dos cuidados à paciente e pelo acompanhamento do contacto número 53, o seu marido.
Mais uma vez, felicito todas as pessoas envolvidas. Este é um momento de orgulho que demonstra a competência, a resiliência e a liderança de África no domínio da saúde pública.
Sola Charles🇳🇬 retweeted
Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland.
The reasons for the evacuation are:
✅ Both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens.
✅ The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition.
On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together.
With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases.
However, vigilance remains critical. Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband.
Congratulations once again to everyone involved. This is a proud moment demonstrating African expertise, resilience, and leadership in public health.
----------------------------
Ce matin, la patiente atteinte d’Ebola au Nigéria et son contact, qui est également son époux, ont été évacués médicalement vers la Suisse.
Les raisons de cette évacuation sont les suivantes :
✅ La patiente et son mari sont tous deux citoyens suisses.
✅ La patiente est cliniquement stable. L’équipe médicale nigériane a réussi à la prendre en charge durant la phase aiguë de la maladie et à stabiliser son état.
Au nom de l’OMS et de tous les partenaires, je félicite chaleureusement le Gouvernement du Nigéria, les agents de santé, les cliniciens, les intervenants d’urgence et toutes les personnes impliquées dans la réponse. C’est une réalisation remarquable et une preuve de ce que l’Afrique peut accomplir lorsque nous travaillons ensemble.
Avec l’évacuation de la patiente et de son mari, le Nigéria ne compte actuellement plus de cas d’Ebola.
Cependant, la vigilance reste essentielle. Le Nigéria poursuivra le suivi rapproché de 52 contacts, tandis que la Suisse assurera la prise en charge continue de la patiente et le suivi du 53ᵉ contact, son mari.
Félicitations encore à toutes celles et ceux qui ont contribué à cette réussite. Ce moment est une fierté, démontrant l’expertise, la résilience et le leadership africains en santé publique.
----------------------------
Hoje de manhã, a paciente com doença pelo vírus Ebola na Nigéria e o seu contacto, que é também o seu marido, foram evacuados por via médica para a Suíça.
A evacuação deve-se aos seguintes motivos:
✅ Tanto a paciente como o seu marido são cidadãos suíços.
✅ A paciente encontra-se clinicamente estável. A equipa médica nigeriana conseguiu prestar-lhe cuidados durante a fase aguda da doença e estabilizar o seu estado de saúde.
Em nome da OMS e de todos os parceiros, felicito calorosamente o Governo da Nigéria, os profissionais de saúde, os clínicos, as equipas de resposta a emergências e todas as pessoas envolvidas na resposta. Esta é uma conquista notável e uma prova do que África pode alcançar quando trabalhamos em conjunto.
Com a evacuação da paciente e do seu marido, a Nigéria não tem atualmente nenhum caso de doença pelo vírus Ebola.
No entanto, é fundamental manter a vigilância. A Nigéria continuará a acompanhar de perto 52 contactos, enquanto a Suíça assumirá a responsabilidade pela continuidade dos cuidados à paciente e pelo acompanhamento do contacto número 53, o seu marido.
Mais uma vez, felicito todas as pessoas envolvidas. Este é um momento de orgulho que demonstra a competência, a resiliência e a liderança de África no domínio da saúde pública.
I Confirm that, with my approval, earlier this morning, the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease departed Abuja for Switzerland. The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline. This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place.
The patient was evacuated along with her spouse who has remained asymptomatic.
I thank all the various clinical staff for the high quality care they provided the patient as well as the public health personnel who ensured the evacuation was carried out in line with best public health measures for such evacuations.
We will provide further updates later this afternoon after the patient and her spouse lands successfully in their destination.
All public health measures are continuing to ensure successful containment of the imported virus. I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on information from credible sources.