Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026)

It is my pleasure to write the preface to this edition of our academic journal which is the first under the new editorial board to which am the editor-in-chief. The board is grateful to be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a consistent, regular and timely publication of high-quality peer reviewed manuscripts with relevant content that will impact her readers. So, in the paper on use of seat belts by commercial bus drivers Ukpabi et al drew attention to this important subject of public health significance in which there was Fairly good knowledge and attitude about the topic but only 57% utilization by commercial bus drivers. The authors called for concerted efforts by road traffic law enforcement officers to ensure compliance to this critical measure towards the prevention of road traffic accidents. 

With the high rates of maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, efforts are continuously being made by stakeholders to reduce these abysmal maternal statistics through several measures one of which is the promotion of institutional childbirths where skilled birth attendants conduct deliveries. However, in most instances, high cost of services rendered deter women from utilizing hospital facilities with some patronizing traditional birth attendants, faith-based and private homes for deliveries. Adajime et al, conducted their research on the role of incentive-plus on knowledge and uptake of hospital childbirth and reported a significant increase in both, following intervention with Mama kit. The authors therefore recommend a coordinated state–federal partnership towards the scale up of awareness campaigns and provision of Mama Kits to pregnant women, thereby enhancing the utilization of facility-based delivery services.

Very interesting is the topic of glaucoma, one of the leading causes of primary irreversible blindness. The paper by Malu et al. aimed to highlight a significant glaucoma burden characterized by advanced disease at presentation and a high prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The findings underscore an urgent need for public enlightenment and subsidized screening programs to facilitate early detection and prevention of irreversible vision loss.

In most instances when topics such as human rights violations and abuse are discussed, the elderly are sidelined. However, the research by Izeji et al is an eye-opener to readers worldwide on this significant but under-recognised public health problem, which has profound consequences for the health, well-being, and human rights of older adults. They opined that elder abuse is a multifactorial phenomenon requiring comprehensive ecological approaches for prevention and intervention. Priorities should include developing culturally appropriate screening tools, strengthening healthcare provider training, enacting protective legislation, and addressing structural determinants such as poverty and social isolation.

 The review article by Efosa et al. focused on another critical public health topic: dementia. Their paper examined sociological and political dimensions of dementia risk among Nigerian women and highlighted how gender inequality, educational disadvantage, and structural poverty contribute to cognitive decline across the life course. Their paper demonstrates the narrative that dementia in Nigerian women reflects structural inequities that require multisectoral policy responses to bridge the gap between biomedical care and social reforms.

 Lastly, this edition concluded with a case report on metachronous contralateral breast cancer following treatment of a primary breast cancer by Gbaa et al. The researchers emphasised the need for vigilance and surveillance by clinicians for this kind of tumour following treatment of a primary lesion so as to detect them early and offer appropriate multidisciplinary care in order to improve patient outcomes. The editorial board promises to keep you updated on current research reports from around the world aimed at improving clinical practice. Enjoy your reading.

Professor Bernard Utoo PhD

Editor-In-Chief