Health
AXA Mansard Health Partners LUTH in Blood Donation Drive

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 250 pints of blood have been donated by AXA Mansard Health to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.
The blood was donated by more than 100 employees of the leading health insurance company in Nigeria through its volunteering programme tagged AXA Hearts in Action.
The initiative is part of the company’s blood donation drive aimed at contributing to positive societal and environmental impacts through employee volunteering, and expertise related financial support and in-kind donations.
According to the Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard, Ms Rashidat Adebisi, “Through the AHIA, our employees do not just give time to great causes; we work together for a better future.”
“We share our time, knowledge and expertise as a people with a shared purpose of acting for human progress by protecting what matters through initiatives like this,” she added.
Ms Adebisi said the blood drive is a shining example of the philosophy in action, where collective contributions serve as a reminder that true impact often involves giving more than just money. It’s about putting one’s heart in action – an idea embedded in AXA’s corporate culture.
On his part, the chief executive of AXA Mansard Health Limited, Mr Tope Adeniyi, said with hospitals frequently experiencing blood shortages, events like these serve as a lifeline for patients in need.
“We are proud to contribute to the local healthcare sector and provide much-needed support to hospitals such as LUTH, ensuring that they have resources essential to saving lives,” he added.
Also commenting, the Head of Corporate Services and Public Relations at LUTH, Omolola Olubukunola Fakeye, thanked the firm for the “generous support,” which has made a “meaningful difference to our blood bank and ultimately to the lives of patients.”
“Blood donations are invaluable in many critical treatments, and initiatives like AXA Mansard’s blood drive bring immense relief to healthcare system.
“We are sincerely grateful for this partnership and the dedication of AXA Mansard’s employees,” Fakeye stated.
AXA Hearts in Action operates globally, she urging AXA employees everywhere to engage with and give back to their communities.
Through diverse projects – from health initiatives like this blood drive and medical outreaches to environmental efforts like the AXA Week for Good “Trash-to-Treasure” waste management project – AXA staff have opportunities to make a lasting difference on issues that matter.
For AXA Mansard, every act of social service brings them closer to the communities they serve, helping build a world where giving back is not only about charity but about lasting, positive change.
Health
Oyo Enrols 10,000 Primary School Pupils for Healthcare Insurance Scheme

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About 10,000 primary school pupils have been enrolled by the Oyo State government for its healthcare insurance programme as part of efforts towards ensuring the children are of sound minds.
The beneficiaries were chosen from 90 schools across 18 local government areas of the state, and were presented their insurance scheme ID cards on Thursday at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi-ape, Ibadan, by the Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal.
He applauded the partnership and collaboration between the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) in providing healthcare opportunities to public school children in the state.
“This scheme will ensure that our children have sound minds, while they learn in conducive environments.
“This event is a collective effort in securing a brighter future of Oyo State pupils,” the deputy governor said.
Mr Lawal also charged OYSHIA to double its efforts in extending the scheme to every school in the State, urging parents and guardians to key into the scheme.
In her goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF in the Lagos Field Office, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, noted that the launch of the Oyo State Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme would give access to affordable, quality healthcare; a fundamental right for every child.
“This initiative reinforces our collective commitment to universal health coverage, ensuring that no child faces financial obstacles to accessing healthcare.
“Universal health coverage is more than a healthcare goal—it’s a social and economic necessity. When children have access to healthcare, they can focus on education, grow into productive adults, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute to the success of Oyo State and Nigeria.
“This scheme exemplifies this by focusing on public primary school children, especially in hard-to-reach areas. With 90 schools already enrolled across 18 LGAs, our goal is to ensure all 33 LGAs in Oyo state are covered, leaving no child behind.
“UNICEF remains steadfast in supporting the government and communities toward universal health coverage,” she stated.
On her part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, applauded OYSHIA and OYOSUBEB for their commitment towards healthy basic school pupils, assuring them of her Ministry’s unparalleled commitment to the scheme.
Also speaking, the Chairman of OYOSUBEB, Mr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, applauded OYSHIA, pledging the board’s commitment to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the scheme.
“At OYOSUBEB, we operate on the principle of taking care of the pupils under our care as though they are ours,” he said, adding that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries to receive quality healthcare without paying exorbitantly to access it.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr Olusola Akande, said the new door being opened today, is focusing on providing access to healthcare for 10,000 public primary school pupils in the first instance, noting that the agency will also commence an enrolment of additional 5,500 pupils into the scheme from next week.
He praised UNICEF, through whose support the agency has been able to improve on its awareness campaign and increased the communities under the Community Based Health Insurance scheme by 100 per cent.
He equally stressed the unparalleled commitment of SUBEB chairman to the scheme, stating, “His open door policy and unrestricted access ensured we were able to keep to our timeline.”
Health
naturalX Secures €100m to Drive Consumer Health in Europe

By Adedapo Adesanya
A venture capital fund focused on consumer health startups that are reshaping the future of healthcare, naturalX Health Ventures has announced a €100 million fund to accelerate this revolution in Europe.
This makes the fund the first specialized fund focused exclusively on the intersection of consumer and health in the European market.
The fund will focus primarily on Series-A investments while remaining flexible to participate in late Seed and Series-B rounds. Typical first investments range from €3-5 million, with up to €10 million available per company.
To companies, naturalX can act as either lead investor or co-investor, targeting consumer health startups across Europe with selected investments in North America.
naturalX was founded by Mr Marvin Amberg, a German serial entrepreneur with experience launching consumer and health startups, in cooperation with Schwabe Group, a global leader in plant-based pharmaceuticals. The fund defines consumer health as the intersection of wellness and medicine, where science-backed products and services put the consumer in focus.
During its 18-month ramp-up phase, naturalX has already made several investments, including mybacs, Flow Neuroscience, Kyan Health, and Meela, while also investing in healthcare-focused VC funds to build a strong ecosystem around their thesis.
Speaking on the development, the founder of the firm, Mr Marvin Amberh “I am very excited to double down on our thesis with the official launch of naturalX. The consumer health space has been overlooked by investors.”
“We see an inflection point in Europe now, as consumers are finally taking more charge of their own health. Startups in the space need a partner with a shared vision,” he added.
The fund’s launch comes at a pivotal moment in consumer health after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated consumers focus on proactive health management, further boosted by easier access to data through technology, including AI.
naturalX targets solutions across proactive health, including sleep, gut health, prevention, and longevity. The fund also places special emphasis on mental health, recognizing the growing need for consumer-centric therapeutic solutions in this underserved area.
The investment strategy bridges Schwabe Group’s deep pharmaceutical expertise with modern digital health innovation.
“We analysed the US health market and in many successful startups, the consumer is already at the centre. Our thesis is that this is just the beginning, and the European market will develop in a similar pattern. While we start to see some examples of consumer-focused healthcare companies in Europe reaching meaningful scale and significant funding, such as Oura or Neko Health, we think this market deserves more attention,” added Mr Amberg.
“naturalX led our Series-A round and has been an exceptional partner, bringing not only capital but also invaluable knowledge of the nutritional supplement and broader consumer health market. Their pragmatic, fast decision-making allows us to focus on growing our business,” said Mr Carl-Philipp von Polheim, Founder of mybacs, a leading DTC probiotic subscription startup.
“At Kyan Health, we are dedicated to proactive mental health management—empowering individuals before issues escalate. naturalX shares this vision, recognizing that prevention is key to lasting impact. Their deep expertise and strategic approach make them an ideal partner in driving meaningful change for millions,” said Mr Vlad Gheorghiu, Founder of Kyan Health, a leading mental health platform for employees.
Health
MultiChoice Donates Medical Items to Sickle Cell Foundation

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some medical items worth about N1.6 billion have been donated by MultiChoice Nigeria to the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) located in Lagos.
The medical supplies were given by the leading pay TV provider as part of its commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the country.
This initiative underscores the dedication of MultiChoice, which operates the popular DStv and GOtv, to making a meaningful impact through strategic partnerships that address critical healthcare challenges and enriching lives of vulnerable populations across Africa.
“We remain dedicated to improving the well-being of our communities through strategic interventions that create a lasting impact.
“The Sickle Cell Foundation plays a crucial role in advancing healthcare for individuals living with sickle cell disorder, and we are proud to support their important mission with this donation,” the chief executive of MultiChoice West Africa, Mr John Ugbe, said.
It was gathered that the vital medical items donated included personal protective equipment (PPE) isolation gowns, test kits, and medical infrared thermometers.
They are aimed at supporting the foundation’s ongoing efforts to provide healthcare services to individuals living with sickle cell disorder and enhancing preparedness for medical emergencies across their nationwide partner hospital network.
The chief executive of SCFN, Dr Annette Akinsete, while receiving the items, commended MultiChoice for its continued support to the organisation.
“On behalf of the foundation, I appreciate MultiChoice for this gesture. This is a big deal to us. MultiChoice has always been a huge supporter of the Foundation, and we appreciate what you have done and are still doing.
“A bulk of these items will go to Massey Street Children’s Hospital and some will be sent to our partner hospitals across the country,” the medical practitioner said.
Recall that in 2009, MultiChoice Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SCFN. It has continued to support the foundation through various interventions including donation of vehicles, partnership on counselling workshops, fundraising and broadcast of awareness documentaries on key facts about sickle cell disease on its DStv and GOtv platforms.
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