Every headline about public health is not just a statistic. It is a story of lives interrupted, families anxious, and communities carrying burdens too heavy for them alone. This week, Nigeria has been in the news for three reasons that should concern every one of us: the rising Lassa fever outbreak, a report that our health system is operating at less than half of its capacity, and the announcement of Africa’s largest immunization campaign. These are not separate issues. They all point to a truth we cannot ignore — when health fails, it is communities that bear the weight.
Lassa Fever and the Everyday Reality of Outbreaks
The figures are sobering. At least 166 lives lost, nearly 900 confirmed cases, and 21 states affected. Yet behind each figure is a human being. A child whose fever went untreated until it was too late. A mother too afraid or too unaware to seek care. A father whose livelihood can no longer support his household.
The story of Lassa fever is also the story of awareness and prevention. This is a disease spread largely by contact with rodent droppings and contaminated food. The solution is not high technology. It is awareness, sanitation, and early care-seeking. It is also a reminder that good health is not only a personal matter but a shared one. A clean home protects your neighbor as much as it protects you.
A Health System Under Strain
This week also brought the news that Nigeria’s health system is performing at just 45 percent of its capacity, compared to an African average of 56 percent. These percentages may sound abstract, but their reality is stark. Imagine a nurse on duty in a rural clinic with no electricity. Imagine a patient waiting hours for treatment that never comes. Imagine a family that sells farmland to pay for simple medicines.
These are not isolated cases. They are daily life for many. But here too is a lesson. The strength of any health system is not only in government budgets or hospital buildings, but in how communities support each other. When neighbors share knowledge, when churches and mosques include health awareness in their gatherings, when local schools teach children about hygiene and nutrition, then resilience grows from the ground up.
A Campaign of Hope
There is also a bright note. Nigeria is preparing to launch the largest integrated health campaign in Africa’s history, rolling out the measles-rubella vaccine nationwide. This is good news not just because it saves lives, but because it demonstrates what is possible when governments, partners, and communities align. Vaccination is one of the greatest victories of modern medicine. It is also a community act. When you vaccinate your child, you are protecting not only your household but your neighbors.
Trends and Temptations
Beyond the headlines, we see the rising tide of wellness trends online. This week, “ear seeding” has trended globally, with claims of facial benefits. Some practices may have cultural roots or anecdotal support, but not every trend is worth adopting. It is important to distinguish between what is safe, what is proven, and what is simply fashionable.
What is proven? Good nutrition, movement, sleep, hydration, and community connection. Even the latest global wellness reports confirm that gut health and dietary habits are shaping the way people care for themselves in 2025. Unlike internet fads, these are grounded in both tradition and science.
The Power of Community
So where does all this leave us? Between outbreaks, strained systems, and trendy distractions, it leaves us facing a choice. We can despair at the failures, or we can rediscover the truth that health begins at home, with each of us.
Community has always been the first hospital. A mother who shares knowledge with her daughter. A father who reminds his son to wash his hands. A neighbor who checks in on an elderly friend. Health is sustained not just in clinics but in conversations, in habits, and in the bonds that hold us together.
At Cyrillic College, we are convinced that the future of health in Nigeria and beyond will be written not only by policies and professionals, but by ordinary people who refuse to surrender to despair. By communities who take charge of what they can, who nurture wellness, and who support one another.
Let us keep talking, keep learning, and keep acting. Because when health fails, it is community that restores.