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To commemorate World Cancer Day 2024, the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) is set to organize a road walk in Piwoyi community along the airport road in Abuja on Friday, 7^th February 2025.

According to IRCE NORA Project Coordinator, Ms Tope Olukomogbon,  the walk aims at “raising awareness about cancer prevention, early detection and treatment and reinforcing our collective commitment to fight against cancer.”

Ms. Olukomogbon stated that the Institute is actively engaged in high-quality cancer research to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes.

“IHVN is engaged in research initiatives such as the Network for Oncology Research in Africa, which is a five-year research initiative focused on reducing breast and cervical cancer mortality in Africa. There is also the SHERLOCK Lung study that seeks to investigate the risk factors and progression of lung cancer in both smokers and never smokers,” she said.

She noted that the Institute remains committed to combating cancer through research, advocacy, and intervention programs.

“As the world observes World Cancer Day, 2025, our goal is to continue bringing together communities, policymakers, health care providers, and researchers in the fight against cancer,” she said.

Click here to download World Cancer Day Pamphlet

EQUAL Researchers at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) have called on the government and policymakers to improve the working conditions of midwives in conflict-affected areas to address poor maternal and newborn health outcomes in the country.

They made this call during a stakeholder meeting to disseminate research findings from Ensuring Quality Access and learning for Mothers and their Newborns in Conflict Affected Context (EQUAL) Consortium research focused on midwifery participation, retention, and resilience in Yobe State.

Principal Investigator of EQUAL at IHVN, Prof. Emilia Iwu stated that Nigeria has only six midwives per 10,000 people with the deficit worse in the North-East which has been affected by Boko Haram Insurgency.

Prof. Iwu who was represented at the dissemination event by EQUAL Project Co-Investigator, Dr. Charity Maina said that “conflict has caused widespread economic hardship, food insecurity, displacement of residents and health workers, and severe disruption of healthcare delivery, including the destruction and closure of some health centers. These factors have complicated efforts to recruit and retain midwives.

Initial study findings from our qualitative study underscore the need for targeted support and intervention to improve midwifery retention and support in rural and hard-to-reach communities,” she said.

The researchers highlighted the need for government and policymakers to strengthen midwifery education, improve working conditions through incentives, develop management guidelines, address misconceptions, and enhance safety training.

“The country needs to prioritize increased salaries, hazard allowances, secure transportation, and housing, and establish mentorship programs to continually support midwives in high-risk areas,” Dr. Maina stressed.

The researchers further noted the need for a clear career progression pathway for midwives and an extension of hospital postings with hands-on practice for thorough training to increase the confidence of midwives.

On security training, the researchers recommended training midwives on personal security, emergency protocols, psychological support, mental health check-ups, and peer support groups.

At the meeting, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, gave the opening remarks. He welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in strengthening MNCH services

The dissemination event brought together representatives from international partners, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Yobe State Ministry of Health, amongst others to discuss research findings and share insights on the recommendations. 

EQUAL is a multi-country research consortium generating evidence on effective approaches to deliver life-saving maternal and newborn health care in countries affected by conflict. IHVN is participating in this research funded by UK Department for International Development (DFID) and led by the International Rescue Committee -IRC. Other EQUAL partners are the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and its university-wide Center for Humanitarian Health, the Somali Research and Development Institute, and Université Catholique de Bukavu (Democratic Republic of Congo). The project is aimed at identifying and filling evidence gaps that could ultimately improve policies, programming, and outcomes for mothers and newborns.

In furtherance of its mission to enhance capacity building, research, and public health excellence, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has begun the construction of a five-story Learning and Development Center at its campus in Abuja.

The facility will contain cutting-edge amenities, including a 1,000-seat multipurpose hall, advanced training and meeting rooms, a modern library, and an e-learning center. It will also serve as a central hub for advanced training programs, promoting knowledge exchange and professional development for healthcare professionals both within Nigeria and internationally.

IHVN Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum noted that the center will be equipped to host both short-term and long-term training programs in collaboration with international institutions such as the University of Maryland and Rutgers University.

“We already have a number of institutions that are doing courses like Diploma and  Masters in Public Health. We are now going to be looking at how we can also hone that in into a diploma, degree and post graduate degrees in implementation science,” he said.

IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah, said the Center is part of IHVN’s long-term commitment to addressing knowledge gaps, mitigating brain drain, and strengthening Nigeria’s public health workforce.

“This facility will play a pivotal role in training the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers, ensuring that Nigeria continues to lead in public health interventions.”

During the first technical meeting for the project, IHVN Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Olu Alabi, urged  Lubell Nigeria Ltd to adhere to project timelines and leverage lessons learned from construction of the IHVN seven-storey twin towers which they built.

The Learning and Development Center is scheduled to be operational within 24 months, with full completion anticipated within 36 months.

The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) has met with representatives from the City Cancer Challenge and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) to discuss potential areas of collaboration in advancing cancer research and care in Nigeria.

During the meeting which held at the IHVN Campus in Abuja, the organizations discussed ways to improve cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment through evidence-based research and capacity building. They also highlighted the importance of a coordinated response to improve cancer care infrastructure and strengthen the health system.

IRCE Coordinator, Dr. Okpokoro welcomed the guests and expressed optimism about the partnership. “The collaboration aligns with our commitment to improving health outcomes for Nigerians and this visit is aimed at fostering the advancement in cancer care, research innovation, and implementation globally and working towards creating a brighter future for cancer patients, through the combination of expertise, resources, experience and innovative solutions,” he said.

Representative from City Cancer Challenge, Dr. Meritxel Mallafré -Larrosa, noted that fostering partnerships with local stakeholders is important in  creating sustainable cancer care systems. They also shared successful case studies from other cities worldwide, offering insights into how similar initiatives can be adapted to Nigeria’s unique context.

NICRAT representative Nwamaka Lasebikan who was also at the meeting expressed her excitement for the collaboration and looked forward to meaningful partnership.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to explore a formal partnership framework and identify pilot projects to address pressing challenges in cancer care across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has said that the Institute is committed to providing timely and relevant services to meet Nigeria’s public health needs. Dr. Dakum stated this during a retreat for the organization’s senior management staff and Team Leads in Lagos, Nigeria.

“This year, the beneficiaries of our services will be encountering program delivery that is highly efficient and research that is relevant to the needs of the populations that we serve.”  He said that the retreat has also equipped senior staff with leadership skills for team success.

Also at the retreat, the IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah stated that the participants have reviewed the organization’s performance in 2024, and identified gaps and strategies for enhanced performance in 2025. Dr. Mensah called for collaboration to ensure that no one is left behind.

“For public health interventions to be successful, we need collaboration amongst multiple partners with each demonstrating and honing their areas of comparative advantage. We are open to partnership and appreciate existing collaborators,” he said.

The retreat featured plenary sessions, panel discussions, leadership training, group strategy sessions, and team bonding activities.

Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the IHVN Board of Directors, Sir Steve Omojafor urged the leaders to use power wisely and utilize influence to persuade and motivate others. He said that good use of power enables leaders to build a productive workforce and utilize talents for the best solutions.

IHVN Board Director, Mr Foluso Phillips called the Team Leads to involve staff in decision-making, uphold the dignity of team members, be fair, and create an environment where people can be their best.

The IHVN Annual 2025 Performance and Strategy Review Retreat was themed, “Enhancing Progress, Accelerating Results for Sustainability.”