WILLINGNESS TO ENROL AND PAY FOR A CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME AND ITS DETERMINANTS: A SURVEY OF RURAL AND URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Introduction/background: Health insurance schemes make healthcare more accessible and affordable, and are essential for protecting individuals and families from the financial risks associated with medical expenses.

Objectives: This study assessed the willingness to enrol and pay for a contributory health insurance scheme and its determinants among rural and urban households in Rivers State.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, with multistage sampling to survey 1196 households across 9 Local Government Areas, 3 from each Senatorial district.

The use of predictive modelling to determine the likelihood of donor return during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artificial intelligence (AI) uses sophisticated algorithms to "learn" from large volumes of data. This could be used to optimise recruitment of blood donors through predictive modelling of future blood supply, based on previous donation and transfusion demand. We sought to assess utilisation of predictive modelling and AI blood establishments (BE) and conducted predictive modelling to illustrate its use.

PUSK AND PULL FACTORS OF EMIGRATION AMONG PHYSICIAN IN NIGERIA.

Background: Physician emigration is increasing exponentially in developing countries. In Nigeria, with the last decade's unprecedented brain drain, it has gained the popular moniker 'japa syndrome'.

Aim: This study aimed to determine push and pull factors affecting physician migration in Nigeria, to provide evidence-backed recommendations for physician retention policies.

Accidental kerosene oil ingestion in under-five age children in Nigeria - The need for vigilance in primary care settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Four children aged between 15 months and two years presented in several different out-patient emergency departments with a history of recent ingestion of kerosene. Majority of the patients lived in crowded domestic settings, and they all presented with varying degrees of respiratory distress, different presentations of respiratory clinical symptoms and signs, after being subjected to various potentially dangerous home remedies to counter the effect of the kerosene. Majority of the children presented late, but all recovered following appropriate management.

Engaging stakeholders to identify gaps and develop strategies to inform evidence use for health policymaking in Nigeria.

Introduction: recent efforts to bridge the evidence-policy gap in low-and middle-income countries have seen growing interest from key audiences such as government, civil society, international organizations, private sector players, academia, and media. One of such engagement was a two-day virtual participant-driven conference (the convening) in Nigeria. The aim of the convening was to develop strategies for improving evidence use in health policy.