The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken steps to promote disability inclusion in the region by formally handing over assistive devices to children. This initiative aims to enhance support for individuals with disabilities across West Africa, according to ThisDay Live.

A nationwide study published in Neurosurgical Review has found that thousands of Nigerian children born with hydrocephalus, commonly called 'water on the brain,' face preventable complications and lifelong disabilities. According to Tribune Online, many cases are diagnosed late, while families cannot afford treatment or lack access to specialist neurosurgical care, leaving affected children at heightened risk across the country.

The National Association of Seadogs, also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, has called on Nigeria's federal government to take urgent and concrete action to address the country's literacy crisis. In a statement signed by its leader, Dr Charles Meribole, and titled 'Rewriting the Future: A National Emergency on Literacy,' the group marked the 2026 International Literacy Day by highlighting the plight of an estimated 18.3 million out-of-school children, according to the statement, and demanding a national emergency response.

Allergy and immunology specialists in Africa are urging that allergic diseases be recognized as a public health priority, highlighting that millions suffer from underdiagnosed and poorly managed conditions. This call to action coincides with World Allergy Week 2026, as the African Alliance for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (AFRICALLI) emphasizes the need for improved care and recognition of these health issues across the continent.

An article from The Conversation Africa examines the additional barriers faced by pregnant women with disabilities in Lagos, Nigeria, within a broader maternal health crisis. It notes that around 70% of global maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by limited access to timely, quality maternity care, shortages of skilled health workers and essential medical supplies, and that Nigeria accounts for a substantial share of these deaths despite years of investment in maternal health services.

A new study has warned that maternal anaemia could have lasting effects on children's brain development, according to the Eastleigh Voice. The condition, characterised by insufficient healthy red blood cells during pregnancy, is particularly widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It is often linked to a lack of iron, although infections and other health problems can also contribute to its development among expectant mothers in these regions.