The news of Pope Francis’ death on 21st April 2025, at the age of 88, was received with profound grief by people of all faith and none across the globe. One of his enduring legacies was his unwavering commitment to the fragile and vulnerable, particularly migrants, a cause he championed with words and deeds. Pope…
Introduction Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a deeply entrenched and harmful practice that affects millions of girls and women worldwide, particularly in Africa. FGM has severe physical and emotional consequences, including immediate health risks, long-term complications, and psychological trauma. According to UNICEF, at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, with…
Introduction Cancer, one of the leading causes of death globally, accounts for approximately 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide as of 2022. The figures for cancer globally are staggering. By 2024, the number of new cases per year will rise to 29.9 million and the death rates to 15.3 million.[1]. For instance,…
In 2021, the Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD) conducted a pivotal study to explore the role of men and boys in gender-based violence (GBV) interventions within Nigerian tertiary institutions. The research revealed a significant gap in the engagement strategies employed by Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs). Specifically, it highlighted that men and boys…
CHELD is a governmental organisation registered in Nigeria and established in 2010. We are a research think-tank and an implementer in public health, mental health, child health and survival, gender-based violence, NCDs, and migration, and their intersections with health, amongst other areas of interest. 2023 was an important year for us at CHELD. Our work…
On 1 November 2024, there was public outcry, and rightly so, when some minors were arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, on account of their alleged participation in the August #EndBadGovernance protests. The charges against them ranged from treason to terrorism, and arson, amongst others. Several videos showed…
L-R: National Coordinator, National Mental Health Program, FMoH, Dr Tunde Masseyferguson Ojoh; Permanent Secretary, FMOH, Daju Kachulom; Director, Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, FMoH, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike and Executive Director, Center for Health Ethics Law and Development, Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, during the Commemoration of World Mental Health Day and Launching of Contextualized MHGAP 3.0…
The Federal Government has established the National Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide. The inauguration, which took place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, coincided with the World Mental Health Day. The primary goal of the Taskforce is the development of an action plan for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Nigeria and the aftermath.…
Centre For Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD) in partnership with Asido Foundation and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, is working to provide mental health support to the people of Maiduguri in the aftermath of the recent flooding disaster which has left many in significant trauma. The recent flooding in Maiduguri has shattered families, searching…
1.1 Introduction Prior to the operational commencement of the National Mental Health Act 2021 on 28th December 2022, the Lunacy Act 1958[1] regulated mental health disorders in Nigeria. The Lunacy Act 1958 began as a lunacy Ordinance 1916. The quest for comprehensive mental health legislation that aligns with contemporary best practices can be traced to…