Health

Covid-19: Let’s not grow weary of the fight – Sanwo-Olu

By Web News 685
GOVERNOR BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU’S CORONAVIRUS PRESS STATEMENT – JULY 11, 2021

Fellow Lagosians,

It has become imperative to once again provide you an update on the Coronavirus pandemic situation in Lagos State, and our ongoing response as a State Government.

Starting around the end of March 2021, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos State began to wind down, and we began to enjoy some reprieve from the worst effects of the virus.

This allowed us to further open-up the economy to allow the start of the journey towards full normalcy in our lives and the pursuit of livelihoods, after what has been a very difficult year.

Regrettably, in spite of the hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lagos State.

From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1% at the end of June 2021 to its current rate of 6.6% as at 8th of July 2021.

The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern. Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation centres increased from an average of 1% to 6%.

This is the new and disturbing reality that now confronts us.

But we must not be demoralized by this.

We must instead resolve that we will not leave any stone unturned in our bid to effectively mitigate the third wave of this pandemic in Lagos State.

As you all know, Lagos has been the epicentre of the pandemic since the start, and the way we manage it here has a significant impact and reverberating effect on the national outlook and outcomes.

So, Nigeria is counting on us in Lagos State to be resolute in our stand against the virus.

We will continue to test aggressively. We will also focus on sequencing the samples we are collecting to ensure we are detecting and keeping track of the different variants in circulation.

It is only by testing and sequencing comprehensively that we can collect the data required for informed decision-making.

Epidemiology Update

As at the 7th of July 2021, Lagos State had recorded a total of 60,202 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Of this number, 55,135 have recovered in-community and 770 are currently being managed actively in-community.

Over the course of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, about 4,382 patients have been admitted into our various COVID-19 care centres in Lagos: with 357 registered fatalities.

In all we have tested 563,679 samples in Lagos State since the pandemic started. Today we have 30 accredited testing centers: 26 private and 4 public health laboratories in the state, a significant improvement in capacity over the course of the past year.

Accredited Health Facilities

Let me make it clear that outside of the health facilities accredited for the management and treatment of COVID-19, and the EKOTELEMED program, no other health facilities, whether public or private, are permitted to admit or attend to COVID-19 patients.

The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) is providing monitoring and surveillance and has been mandated to apply heavy fines and other punitive measures on all facilities found to be in violation of this.

Lagosians should desist from patronizing non-accredited COVID-19 treatment centers, and proprietors should also ensure that all suspected and confirmed cases are referred appropriately.

Vaccine Distribution and Access

One of the major tenets of our mitigation strategy against the 3rd wave is our vaccination campaign, similar to other parts of the world.

It has been observed by various credible studies that those that have received their vaccines have demonstrated significant resistance to the effects of the virus, with fewer associated complications and deaths.

As of today, however, the percentage of residents of Lagos who have received two (2) doses of the vaccine stands at a mere 1%.

We recognise that this is not adequate, and given the imminent third wave, and our priority to reduce COVID-19 related deaths, we are exploring all avenues possible to ramp up access to vaccination so as to reach our herd immunity target of at least 60% COVID-19 vaccination coverage of the population of Lagos State.

We are confident that we will be getting a second batch of vaccines very soon, to kick-start the second phase of vaccinations.

Travel Protocols for in-Bound Passengers
Between 8th May 2021 and 7th July 2021, a total of 50,322 passengers of interest arrived in Lagos via the Murtala Mohammed Airport.

Of the 50,322 passengers, 18 percent could not be reached by EKOTELEMED because of the provision of either wrong numbers or wrong Nigerian contact details to be reached on.

It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they provide the right details for us to reach them for proper monitoring.

Going forward, passengers that do not provide the right details, including a phone number they can be reached for monitoring and an address for isolation, will face serious sanctions including fines and imprisonment according to our Lagos State Coronavirus Law of 2021.

Sanctions Against Quarantine Defaulters

As dictated by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), passengers from red-listed countries (India, South Africa, Brazil and Turkey) are required to observe mandatory isolation.

So far, we have successfully isolated 2,386 passengers in Lagos State.

Of this number, 15% have absconded.

The following sanctions are being recommended and have already been meted out to defaulters:
● For Foreigners: Revocation of their Permanent Residency, and deportation; and
● For Nigerians: Prosecution to the full extent of the Lagos State COVID-19 Law.

Religious Activities

Greater vigilance is required at this time in our Churches and Mosques and other places of religious worship.

Even as we are pleased that religious houses are now open for worship, after the lengthy closures of 2020, we must not allow ourselves to be carried away by the illusion that all is now back to normal.

This is especially critical, as Sallah approaches, in a little over a week from now.

The festivities will no doubt bring people together in large numbers and create conditions that can sadly cause the spread of the Coronavirus.

We must not allow this to happen.

For this reason, we are mandating full compliance with all protective protocols.

Compulsory use of masks in all public places, Social distancing, Temperature checks, Provisions for hand-washing and sanitizers, and a maximum of 50 percent occupancy in enclosed spaces.

Resisting Pandemic Fatigue

Whilst both the Federal and State Governments have a huge role to play in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibility of managing the third wave ultimately belongs to all of us.

Without the cooperation of the public at large, we stand the risks of losing both lives and livelihood, on a devastating scale.

Therefore, I would like to once again reiterate that this is not the time to get tired or complacent.

Instead, we must be re-energized to battle this invisible and seemingly relentless enemy.

After almost 18 months of daily confronting this virus, it is understandable that many are tired and want their old, pre-pandemic lives to return.

Unfortunately, we do not have a choice in this regard, and fatigue is not an option.

We cannot afford to be tired, frustrated or distracted.

The enemy is formidable and opportunistic, it will only go as far as we allow it.

Having triumphed over the first and second waves of the pandemic, we must now find within ourselves new reserves of energy to quell this emerging third wave before it snowballs out of control.

Let me assure us all that victory over COVID-19 is much closer today than at any other point in our recent history.

But we must persevere to see this victory.
We must maintain our vigilance even as we ramp up the vaccination coverage.

At this point, I would like to thank all the members of the Incident Command Structure for their resilience in the management of this never-ending pandemic, and also the Federal Government, through the Presidential Steering Committee, for all their support and collaboration.

Lagos State will continue to work with all our partners, across government and the private sector, to ensure that we permanently triumph over this virus.

We will not rest until this is achieved.

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
Incident Commander
July 11, 2021

Health

Nigeria Adds South Africa To COVID-19 ‘Red List’

By Web News 641

The federal government has added South Africa to its “red list” of countries for which there are stringent restrictions for arriving passengers, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the head of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, said during a briefing on Monday.

The restrictions are due to the spread of the Delta variant in South Africa, joining India, Brazil and Turkey on the list

Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited the countries on the list within 14 days are barred entry from Nigeria, while passport holders and residents must undergo a seven-day quarantine in a government-approved facility at a cost to the passenger, he said.

They are also required to take COVID-19 tests within 24 hours or arrival and after seven days in quarantine.

“In Nigeria, we haven’t found the Delta variant yet,” Ihekweazu said.

Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said Nigeria is expecting an additional 3.924 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX scheme by August 2021, and 29.85 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through the African Union by September.

Nigeria received 3.92 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine via COVAX in March, and has thus far administered 3.44 million shots.

FRCN, Abuja

Environment

FG Flags-Off Clean Nigeria Campaign Training In Ibadan

By Web News 772

Three thousand three hundreds youths are to participate in the National Youth Volunteer Programme of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on the Hand Washing and Clean Nigeria Campaign in Oyo state.

Flagging off the training programme in Ibadan, the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu explained that the youths would be trained on communicating and demonstrating good sanitation and hygienic practices that could help to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

The minister who spoke through the South West Coordinator National Youth Volunteer programme, Mrs Damilola Akomolafe, said the volunteers would also be trained on curtailment of open defecation practices in the country.

Mr Suleiman noted that the volunteers would be engaged for community sensitisation and awareness creation on safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices for COVID-19 prevention for a period of three months.

The minister explained that the volunteers would in turn be expected to engage at household, community and institutional levels in passing on these messages.

He implored the youth volunteers to work hard in sensitising the people in their respective communities, in using innovative ways to stop the practice of open defecation.

The Chairman of the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Mr Najeem Omirinde said the programme was all about information dissemination advocacy on handwashing and clean Nigeria campaign to prevent COVID-19.

Mr Omirinde commended the federal government on the programme and urged the volunteers to be dedicated while carrying out the exercise.

The 3300 youth volunteers were drawn across the 33 local government in the state with 100 persons from each council.

The training involves the engagement of 100 youth volunteers in each of the 774 local government areas across the country.

Iyabo Adebisi

News Yoruba

Igbimo Tilese Aare Gbekale Lori Oro Arun Covid-19 Kede Awon Arinrin Ajo Bi Aadorun Ti Won N Wa

By Web News 803

Igbimo ile-ise, Aare ti won gbekale lori oro arun covid-19 ti kede sisawari awon arin-rin ajo bi aadorun topo ninu won je awon omo ile Nigeria atawon eeyan ile okeere eyi to sapejuwe airi won gege bi ohun to lewu feto ilera ile Nigeria.

Atejade kan talaga igbimo naa ti tunse akowe sijoba apapo orileede yii, Ogbeni Boss Mustapha, soodi mimo pe, awon eeyan aadorun naa ti gbogbo won ti tan yi ka orileede yi ni won tako ofin tiwon fisita fawon arin-rin ajo to ba n wo orileede yi wa lati ile India, Turkey ati Brazil.

Gege batejade ohun tun se wipe, awon eeyan naa toruko ati awon iwe irinna won wa ninu atejade tiwon fisita fun igbimo ile ise Aare ohun niwon rapala wo ile Nigeria.

  BANJO/WOJUADE

Yoruba

Awon Gomina Yio Sepade Lati Wa Ojutu Sawon Ipenija Tile Yi Nkoju

By Web News 625

Awon Gomina l’awon ipinle merindinlogoji nile yi ni won yio sepade papo lola lona ati wa ojutu sawon oniruuru ipenija to nkoju ile yi.

Egbe awon gomina nile yi NGF lo kede oro yi ninu atejade ti eniti o wa foro iroyin ati ipolongo won, Ogbeni Abdulrazaq-Bello Barkindo fi sita nilu Abuja.

Ogbeni Bello-Barkindo so wipe awon Gomina nibi ipade ori ero ayelujara ti yio bere ni aago meji osan yio jiroro lori ase ijoba, kewa, awon oro to nja rayinrayin ati ajakale arun Covid-19 to be sile fun igba keta.

O fikun wipe oludari agba fun egbe NGF, Ogbeni Asishana Okauru ni yio foro to won lati lori ibiti nkan de duro lori ase ijoba kewa nibi ipade ti won ti se pelu alakoso foro awon osise ati igbanisise, Omowe Chris Ngige.

Gegebi o se so, iyanselodi ti egbe awon osise ile ejo nile yi ati tawon osise ile igbimo asofin nile yi gunle naa wa lara ofin ti won yio gbe yewo.

Oluwayemisi Dada

News Yoruba

Ijoba Apapo Sekilo Fawon Omo Orileede Yi Kan, Lati Yago Kuro Nidi Gigunle Irin-Ajo Lo Sawon Orileede Tarun Covid-19 Eleeketa N Ba Finra

By Web News 671

Ijoba apapo orileede yi ti sekilo fawon omo orileede yi, lati yago kuro nidi gigunle awon irinajo lo sawon ilu ti ibesile kokoro aarun covid-19 n bafinra fun igba keta, papa  julo ile India nibi to ti gbile jula.

Bakanna, lo tun menuba ile South Africa, Turkey ato rileede Braizil ninu oro igbanniyanju lori oro irin ajo.

Alabojuto agba fun igbimo amuseya ile-ise aare tiwon gbekale foro covid-19, omoowe Mukhtar Muhammad lo siso loju oro yii nibi ipade awon oniroyin to waye nily Abuja. 

Bee lo tun sekilo fawon omo orileede yi kan tiwon fo dengbere mawon ofin atilana to dena itankanle arun covid-, kiwon sora se nitori pe, arun naa ko tii kase nile tan.

Omowe Muhammad wa tokasi pe, ofin titakete lawujo opo ero, atiwiwo ibomu, siwa digbi, lawon ojutaye bi oja, ibudo igbafe awon ile itaja igbalode to fi mawon ibomiin lati itankanle kokoro arun covid-19 patapata.

Net/Wojuade

Foreign

COVID-19: India’s Crisis Worsens As Nations Pledge Help

By Web News 591

India’s new coronavirus cases have hit a record peak for a fifth day on Monday, according to a health ministry statement.

The new infections come as countries around the world, including the UK, Germany and the US, pledged to deploy urgent medical aid to help tackle the crisis overwhelming Indian hospitals.

The health ministry said infections in the last twenty-four hours rose to 352,991, with overcrowded hospitals in Delhi and elsewhere sending away patients after running out of supplies of medical oxygen and beds.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all Indians to get vaccinated and exercise caution, while hospitals and doctors have put out urgent notices saying they were unable to cope with the rush of patients.

In some of the worst-hit cities, including the capital, New Delhi, corpses were being burnt in makeshift facilities offering mass services.

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden said Washington would send raw materials for vaccines, medical equipment and protective gear to India. Germany and Britain joined a mounting list of countries that have promised to send supplies.

India, with a population of 1.3 billion, has a tally of 17.31 million infections and 195,123 deaths, added to 2,812 deaths overnight, according to health ministry data.

Health experts believe the death count to be probably far higher.

FRCN, Abuja

Health

COVID-19: 59,000 Vaccinated In Ogun

By Web News 832

Ogun state government says Over Fifty nine thousand residents of the state have been vaccinated in the first phase of the COVID-19 campaign exercise in accordance to the directive of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency

The Executive Secretary, Ogun state Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola stated this while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Abeokuta.

Dr Ogunsola also announced that plans had been concluded to administer the second dose to healthcare workers, strategic leaders and other front line workers who had received the first shot.

listen……

Dr Ogunsola implored the residents that had taken the first dose to keep their vaccination cards as evidence for the second dose, pointing out that people of 50 years and above as well as those with underlining ailment such as high blood pressure, diabetes, among others would be programmed to receive their jabs in the second phase of the campaign.

Olusegun Folarin

Health

Covid-19 Deaths Pass Three Million Worldwide

By Web News 694

The number of people who have died worldwide in the Covid-19 pandemic has surpassed three million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The milestone comes the day after the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned the world was “approaching the highest rate of infection” so far.

India – experiencing a second wave – recorded more than 230,000 new cases on Saturday alone.

Almost 140 million cases have been recorded since the pandemic began.

WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Friday that “cases and deaths are continuing to increase at worrying rates”.

He added that “globally, the number of new cases per week has nearly doubled over the past two months”.

The US, India and Brazil – the countries with the most recorded infections – have accounted for more than a million deaths between them, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Last week saw an average of 12,000 deaths a day reported around the world, according to news agency AFP.

However, official figures worldwide may not fully reflect the true number in many countries.

What’s happening in India?

Up until a few weeks ago, India appeared to have the pandemic relatively under control. Cases had been below 20,000 a day for much of January and February – a low figure in a country of more than a 1.3 billion people.

But then infections began to rise rapidly: Saturday saw a record set for the third day in a row, with more than 234,000 cases reported.

Hospitals are running low on beds and oxygen. Sick people are being turned away, and some families are turning to the black market to get the drugs they need. A BBC investigation found medication being offered at five times the official price.

The capital Delhi has gone into lockdown over the weekend, with restrictions put in place in several other states, as officials try to stem the tide.

All eyes are now on the Kumbh Mela festival, which has continued despite fears the millions of Hindu devotees who attend each year could bring the virus home with them. Some 1,600 people tested positive this week at the gathering in the northern state of Uttrakhand, with pictures showing thousands gathered closely together along the banks of the Ganges river.

It has led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to plead with people to refrain from gathering.

Where else are cases rising?

Brazil – which has recorded the third highest number of cases and, at 368,749, the second highest number of deaths – is still struggling to control the outbreak.

On Friday, the health ministry announced more than 85,000 new cases over the previous 24 hours and 3,305 deaths.

Canada has also reported a recent rise, registering more cases per million than the US over the last week – the first time this has happened since the pandemic began.

Papua New Guinea has also been highlighted as a cause for concern. The World Health Organization head, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted “the potential for a much larger epidemic” in the Pacific nation following a sharp increase in cases.

He added that the country – which has received 140,000 vaccine doses through Australia and the Covax scheme – is a “perfect example of why vaccine equity is so important”.

How is vaccination going globally?

More than 860 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered, in 165 countries worldwide.

However, Dr Tedros told UN officials on Friday: “Vaccine equity is the challenge of our time – and we are failing.”

Some countries have secured and delivered doses to a large proportion of their population.

Countries with high vaccinations rates, such as the UK and Israel, have seen their numbers of new infections drop sharply. A leading Israeli doctor said this week he believes the country – where more than half the population has been vaccinated – may be close to reaching “herd immunity”.

But many more countries are still waiting for their first shipments to arrive.

That is leading to warnings about growing “vaccine inequity” – jabs not being being shared fairly between rich and poorer countries.

Dr Tedros pointed out that in high-income countries, one in four people have received a vaccine, compared with only one in 400 in poorer countries.

The WHO is working on a global scheme, Covax, to get rich countries to share their jabs with lower income countries. Covax plans to deliver about two billion vaccine doses globally by the end of the year, but many vaccines require two doses per person.

Scientists are also worried about how effective the current jabs will be against fast-spreading new variants of the disease.

Research is ongoing into updated jabs that work against the variants and some countries are considering whether booster shots will be needed.

Experts are closely studying them to understand if vaccines may need to be updated to be more effective. Some countries are considering whether booster shots will be needed.

Professor Adam Finn, a member of the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said he expected a “gradual erosion” of vaccine protection as the virus evolves, but immunity from vaccines “won’t just disappear”.

BBC

Religion

Ramadan: MMPN Urge Muslims to Adhere to Covid-19 Protocols During Fasting

By Web News 827

As Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts all over the world to begin Ramadan fasting, they have been urged to be moderate and follow Covid-19 protocols while fasting and engaging in other spiritual activities. 

This is contained in a statement in Ibadan by Chairman, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, MMPN, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Ridwan Fasasi.

Alhaji Fasasi said though there is no restriction by government, the traditional activities during Ramadan like Tarawih, Tafsir, group iftar and annual lecture should be observed moderately and in line with Covid-19 protocols so as to prevent the spread of the virus.

He noted that since Ramadan is a month full of blessings, Muslims should use the opportunity to pray fervently to seek Allah’s forgiveness to halt the ravaging Covid-19, which has brought the world to its knees.

He urged the Islamic faithful especially the wealthy ones to remember the less privileged and others that the current economic challenges have affected bearing it in mind that Ramadan is a month of helping the needy. 

Alhaji Fasasi enjoined Muslim philanthropists to take sponsorship of Islamic lectures as a top priority so that Muslims will be able to benefit from such through traditional channels of radio and Television as well as new media platforms.

He admonished Islamic clerics who will be handling such lectures and explanation of the holy Quran to lay emphasis on prevention of the spread of coronavirus, as well as issues of patriotism, peaceful co-existence, and love for one another.

Alhaji Fasasi prayed to Allah to give Nigerian leaders the wisdom and power that will make the country survive the post Covid-19 challenges.

He emphasized that since the compulsory twenty-nine or thirty days fasting is hinged on God’s consciousness, Muslims should endeavor to ensure that their actions and inactions follow the dictates of Allah.

Ridwan Fasasi

Health

UCH Debunks Claim of 17 Covid-19 Fatalities among Doctors

By Web News 710

The University College Hospital, UCH, says claims that 17 doctors have died of Covid-19 related diseases is false.

This is contained in a Statement by the Public Relation Officer of the institution, Toye Akinrinlola.

It describes a news item credited to the President of UCH branch of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, claiming 17 Covid-19 related fatalities among doctors in UCH as fictitious.

                             TEXT

No Doctor has died of COVID 19 in UCH. 

The attention of the management of the University College Hospital, Ibadan has been drawn to a news item credited to the President of the UCH Branch Association of Resident Doctors purportedly claiming that 17 doctors have died of COVID-19 related diseases.

The management has viewed the said publication as complete falsehood and absolutely reckless on the part of the ARD President. Though he has denied that he didn’t grant any press interview in that regard, we see the publication as malicious and it is rejected in all ramifications. 

For the avoidance of doubts, quite a number of members of staff of the Hospital contracted the COVID-19, but it is also proper to state that since the members of staff live within the society, they remain as vulnerable as any member of the society. 

The Hospital has taken very seriously issue of staff welfare, especially the frontline health workers by providing adequate personal protective 

equipments for them, while we also observe all COVID 19 protocols as laid

by the Nigeria, Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

We hereby state in clear terms that the UCH has not lost any doctor to COVID 19 and , unfortunately, we  lost two member of staff who were not health workers to COVID-19 related diseases.

We sincerely appeal to the members of the Press to properly cross check reports from the relevant sources in the hospital before publishing any reports about us.

Again, we appeal to the public to be patient with the hospital while the renovation of the hospital is ongoing, and that we shall serve the public better after the renovation. 

Toye Akinrinlola UCH PRO

For: the Chief Medical Director.

 

News Yoruba

Ileese Aare Yo Ni Ajosepo Pelu Ile Igbimo Asofin Lori Afikun Aba Ofin

By Web News 1073

Aare Muhammadu Buhari ti se ipade po pelu Aare ile igbimo asofin Ahmed Lawan ati adari ile, Femi Gbajabiamila lati jiroro po lori afikun aba isuna, kaye to yo sile fun owona lori abere ajesara covid-19 ati rira eroja on elo ileese ologun.

Nigba to n soro leyin ipade atilekun morise, Senator Lawan so fun awon akoroyin pe ile asofin ati igbimo isakoso ile asofin ti fenuko pe o se Pataki ki afikun deba aba isuna, ko le fayegba abere ajesara ati eka eto abo.

Senator Lawan so pe ti awon iko abo, ba ri owonaa toto, yo je ki ise won yaa Kankan, kileyi le moribo kuro ninu eto abo to mehen.

Lori oro covid-19, oni ile yi gbodo ro awon onimo nipa science lagbara ki won le sise po pelu awon akegbe won loke okun, lati ipese abere ajesara naa labele, nitoripe orileede yi ko le tesiwaju lati ma gbokan le rira lati oke okun nikan.

Ninu oro Ogbeni Gbajabiamila o to kasi pe, igbimo Pataki ni ile ti gbe kale ti won yo sise lori fife ese abo mule, ti won yo si fi abo iwadi won sowo fun Aare Buhari.

Net/Afonja.

Foreign

Humanitarian Help: UN Seeks $10bn For Syria

By Web News 726

The United Nations (UN) is expected to call on international donors to pledge up to 10 billion Dollars on Tuesday to help Syrians fleeing a decade of civil war in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the event, the fifth annual conference to keep Syria’s refugees from starvation, the UN will argue that the need for humanitarian support has never been so great.

The conference is being hosted by the European Union (EU), and will seek some 4.2 billion Dollars for people inside Syria as well as 5.8 billion Dollars for refugees and their hosts in the Middle East.

“It has been ten years of despair and disaster for Syrians,” said UN aid chief Mark Lowcock. “Now plummeting living conditions, economic decline and COVID-19 result in more hunger, malnutrition and disease. There is less fighting, but no peace dividend,” Mr. Lowcock said in a statement.

Fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels has subsided since a deal a year ago ended a Russian-led bombing campaign that had displaced over a million people. However, Russian air strikes, along with Iranian and Syrian-backed militaries, continue to attack rebel outposts.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to address the conference on Tuesday. While marking a decade of conflict on March 10, Mr. Guterres had described Syria as a “living nightmare”, where about half the children have never lived a day without war and 60 percent of Syrians are at risk of going hungry.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement called on international donors to help rebuild the country, particularly to repair critical health, water and electricity services.

A recent reuter’s report says around 24 million people in Syria need basic aid, a rise of four million over the past year and the highest number yet since a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters by President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 resulted in civil war.

Frcn, Abuja

News Analysis

World Tuberculosis Day 2021…The Clock is Ticking

By Web News 882

Tuberculosis, TB, is a contagious infection that usually attacks lungs and also spreads to other parts of the body, like brain and spine.


It is a type of bacteria called mycobacterium.


Due to the nature of the disease, every 24th of March is commemorated as the World Tuberculosis Day.


It is a day set aside to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis, and to step up efforts to end the global tuberculosis epidemic.


The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing the disease.


The day was created by the World Health Organization, WHO, to spread knowledge and awareness of tuberculosis, an infectious disease that kills millions every year.


Tuberculosis is easily curable, but it can lie dormant and undetected for years.


Recently, according to the Coordinator, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike Nigeria has been ranked number one in Africa and sixth in the world on the Tuberculosis Mobility Index.


He explained that Nigeria accounts for 11% of the global gap between TB incidences and notified cases.


Dr. Chukwuma noted that out of 440,000 estimated new TB cases in Nigeria in 2019, only 120,266 were reported to the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme with 27% treatment coverage.


It is estimated that close to three million people with TB are not diagnosed or reported annually around the world.


The Covid-19 pandemic is in its second year and is unfortunately taking increasing medical resources and attention away from providing necessary life-saving diagnosis, medicine and care to people suffering from tuberculosis (TB).


The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that people with TB are among the most marginalized and vulnerable, facing barriers in accessing care.


This is alarming as every single day 4,000 people die and 27,000 people get sick with TB.


TB remains the biggest infectious killer disease that really needs attention.


However, Nigeria has a lot to do as it has less than two years left to fulfill W.H.O’s promises and take action on the commitments made at the United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB in 2018.
Despite the high rate of TB in some countries the W.H.O. through its global interventions has saved 63 million lives from the scourge.


The theme for this year’s TB day – “The clock is ticking” – conveys the sense that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end TB made by global leaders.


As W.H.O. is calling for action on several fronts to ensure that the commitments made to end TB are achieved, Nigeria needs to borrow a leave from developed countries that had won the battle.


To curtail the spread of tuberculosis in Nigeria, there is need for innovative approaches to TB, detecting new cases, arresting them through treatment and avoiding stigmatization as a strategy.


Also government, NGOs, health workers and other stakeholders must join the efforts of changing Nigeria’s negative record and fighting the menace before 2022.


It is imperative for Nigeria to follow W.H.O. new guidelines on TB systematic screening along with an accompanying operational guide.


Nigerians should not take TB for granted as it is deadly and has no respect for any person whether rich or poor though there is hope if people do the right thing to arrest the menace in the country.


Ending TB, requires concerted action by all sectors to provide the right services, support and enabling safe environment in the right place, at the right time.


Above all, everyone has a role to play in ending TB, do your part!


Olukemi Akintunde

Health

Covid-19 Vaccine: We will ensure a safe, stress-free process – Makinde

By Web News 936

Oyo State government has flagged off the Covid-19 vaccination with the immunisation of Governor Seyi Makinde alongside the Secretary to the state government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, from the 127,740 Covid-19 vaccines received from the federal government.


Speaking after the vaccination, Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde admonished residents of the state to have confidence in the process and promised that the state would continue to monitor the process for necessary actions.


The vaccination which was carried out at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan was witnessed by the representatives of World Health Organization, WHO, UNICEF and the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA.


The governor noted that the sterility test which was carried out on the Covid-19 vaccines was done to validate that the vaccines that would be given to the people were properly handled.


Governor Makinde commended the health workers in the state for proper handling of the Covid-19 pandemic which prevented its escalation.


While administering the vaccines on the governor, Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji urged people to forget about the misconceptions about the vaccines, pointing out that it would develop immunity against the disease.


Earlier, Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Bashir Bello stated that the vaccines were kept at the required temperature so as to keep it safe for human use.


Iyabo Adebisi

Health

CSOs Call For Increased Access To TB Treatment

By Web News 696

As the world commemorates this year’s Tuberculosis Day with the theme, ”The clock is ticking”, civil society organisations have stressed the need to raise more awareness on the debilitating effects of the medical condition on the socio-economic stability of the country.

Those who spoke with Radio Nigeria in Akure said this would prompt people to go for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. 

Studies have shown that tuberculosis is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases causing the death of about 4000 people in Nigeria annually.

This year’s theme “The clock is ticking” emphasises on the need for quick action and collaboration towards ending tuberculosis.

The global pandemic which has also increased the risk of the disease is the main reason civil society organisations in Ondo State are advocating accelerated efforts towards ending tuberculosis.

They were of the view that eradicating the disease would have positive impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of the country as government would convert fund meant for drugs to building infrastructure while the people also live in good health.

Ondo State coordinator of Tuberculosis Network, Mr. Martin Mary Falana said there is urgent need to stop the disease among people.

Another stakeholder, Mrs Folasade Bamigboye urged government to make tuberculosis treatment more accessible to infected persons, possibly in all health facilities across the country in the bid to eradicate the deadly disease. 

While advising people to visit hospitals when they have persistent cough, the state programme manager on TB and leprosy in Ondo State, Dr Oluwafemi Aina said early diagnosis often helped in the treatment of tuberculosis and prevent the disease from damaging internal organs.

Dr Aina said the risk of tuberculosis was high with the Covid-19 pandemic urging people to take their health seriously.

Olufisoye Adenitan

Health

COVID-19: Oyo Govt. Subjects Vaccines to Sterility Test

By Web News 1130

Oyo state government says about 128,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines received from the Federal government are currently subjected to sterility test before administering to residents.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello said this while speaking with journalists after the weekly executive council meeting. 

Dr. Bello said the step was adopted in view of global concerns on the vaccines, noting that arrangements were being made to ensure adequate precautions on the vaccination procedure.

Also, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye disclosed that the state government has approved the upgrade of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Oyo, to a University of Education to contribute in producing competent teachers with required skills.

Mr. Olaleye disclosed that the institution has all the requisite human and material resources to fully transform into a full-fledged University.

The Commissioner for Public Works, and Transport, Professsor Daud Sangodoyin explained that the executive council also approved the construction of 65 metres Flyover Bridge from Akobo-Ojurin to Odogbo axis with an estimated sum of 1.058 billion naira 

According to the Commissioner, the project would be funded through the alternative project funding approach and completed within six months.

Iyabo Adebisi

News Yoruba

Àjọ P.T.F Sèkìlọ̀ Lórí Oun Tólè Fáà Ìbẹ́sílẹ̀ Àrùn Covid-19 ẹlẹketa

By Web News 750

Ikọ̀ amúsẹ́yá ìjọba àpapọ̀ fárùn covid 19 ti sèkìlọ̀ fáwọn èèyàn ilẹ̀ yíì, láti ma kíyesara kí ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa má ba kojú àrùn covid-19, fún ìgbà kẹta.

Akọ̀wé ìjọba àpapọ̀ títún se alága ikọ̀ amúsẹyá ìjọba àpapọ̀ fárùn covid-19, P.T.F, ọ̀gbẹ́ni Boss Mustapha ẹnitó sọ̀rọ̀ ìkìlọ̀ yíì nílu Abuja, sọpé kòsí ẹnikẹ́ni to ti, léè fakanbalẹ lórí àarùn yíì pẹ̀lú bí abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára covid-19 se ti wà ńta.

Ọgbẹni Mustapha, sàlàyé pé, orílẹ̀dè italy, faranse, àti Germany, jẹ́ ara àwọn orílẹ̀èdè tó ti ń kojú àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn covid 19 ẹlẹteta.

Alága ikọ̀ PTF, tọ́kasi pé ètò abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára ti bẹ̀rẹ̀ èyí lómú se pàtàkì fáwọn èèyàn láti mú ètò àbò arawọn lakunkúndùn.

Ẹwẹ, olùdarí àgbà , àjọ tó ńrísí ìdàgbàsókè ètò ìlera alábọ́dé nílẹ̀ yíì, Díkítà Faisal Shuaub fikun pé kòtọ́sì ipa kóòtóò abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára àrùn covid-19, fáwọn tó ti gbà.

Net/Idogbe

Health

Ogun Govt. Commences Administration of Covid-19 Vaccine

By Web News 926

Ogun State Government is to commence the administration of Covid-19 vaccination in line with the guidelines from the National Primary Health Care Agency to eligible residents across the State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, who stated this in a statement, said administration of the vaccine was part of the efforts to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in collaboration with Development Partners.

Dr Coker said the exercise would begin on Monday through Wednesday, 24th 2021 for all front line workers across the 20 Local Government Areas in the state.

She encouraged the eligible residents to register online through nphcdaict.com.ng/publicreg and select the nearest health facility to them as their vaccination site to get vaccinated during the exercise.

Olusegun Folarin

Health

Oyo Receives 127, 740 COVID-19 Vaccines

By Web News 665

Oyo State Government has received Covid-19 vaccines.

This is contained in a Statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa.

TEXT

PRESS RELEASE

…to distribute vaccines in 33 LGs
The government of Oyo State, on Thursday, confirmed the receipt of 127, 740 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), Abuja.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the vaccines were received in Ibadan by the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, on Thursday.
According to the statement, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, who confirmed the development said that 127,740 doses of the vaccines were received by the state government as part of the first phase of vaccine distribution.
Dr. Olatunji maintained that the state government has commenced the training of health workers who would apply the vaccines, adding that the medical workers will also be trained at the local government levels.
Olatunji said that “the state has received 127, 740 COVID-19 vaccines dispatched from Abuja by the NPHDA on behalf of the Federal Government,” stating that the vaccines were received in good condition and that they have also been kept in appropriate cold rooms.
According to him, the state government has commenced the training of health professionals who will administer the vaccines to residents of Oyo State.
Dr. Olatunji said: “I can confirm to you that the Oyo State government has received a total of 127, 740 AstraZeneca vaccines from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. The vaccines are in good order and we have warehoused them in appropriate cold rooms.
“We have very strong cold rooms and we cannot even use up to one-third of the capacity in the state.
“We have already commenced the training of health workers, who will administer the vaccines. Next week, we will equally conduct the training at the local government levels.
“We will push the vaccines to the 33 local governments where they will be kept under appropriate conditions.”
Signed
Taiwo Adisa
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde
March 11, 2021.

Yoruba

Oluranlowo Pataki Faare P’efun Igbese Lati Wojutu Si Ise Larin Awon Obinrin

By Web News 895

Oluranlowo pataki fun aare f’oro idagbasoke saa ta a wayi, Arabinrin Adejoke Oorelope Adefulure ti pe fun ifowosowopo gbogbo awon t’orokan lati wojutu si isee l’aarin awon obinrin.

O so eyi ninu atejade to fi sita lati s’amin ayajo awon obinrin fun todun yi.

Arabinrin Oorelope-Adefulure kegbajare pe, onira fun opo obinrin lati gbo bukata tooye, nitori ipa arun COVID-19.

O tokasi pe, ijoba apapo ti dahun si opo ipenija awon obinrin nipase owo iranwo pataki f’awon obinrin ese-kuku, lawon ipinle merindinlogoji to wa lorileede yi.

Elizabeth Idogbe

Foreign

Syria’s Assad, Wife Test Positive for COVID-19

By Web News 589

Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wife have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the president’s office.

A statement by the office said on Monday that Mr. and Mrs. Assad have only mild symptoms of the illness.

It said the country’s first couple did PCR tests after they experienced minor symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 disease.

Mr. Assad, fifty-five, and his wife Asma, who is ten years younger and announced her recovery from breast cancer in 2019, will continue to work from home, where they will isolate between two to three weeks, the statement said.

Both were in “good health and in stable condition,” it added.

Syria, which marks a decade of war next week, has registered nearly 16,000 COVID-19 cases in government-held parts of the country, including 1,063 deaths. But a recent report by the Associated Press says the numbers are much higher with limited amounts of PCR tests being done, particularly in areas of northern Syria outside government control.

Frcn, Abuja

Health

I won’t take Covid vaccine, Kogi people are not guinea pigs –Yahaya Bello

By Web News 652


As Nigeria commenced its vaccination against the lethal coronavirus infection on Friday , Kogi State Governor , Yahaya Bello , has said he won ’t receive the vaccine even as his colleagues are expected to receive shots of the AstraZeneca / Oxford COVID – 19 vaccines in the coming days .

Bello spoke on Channels Television ’s ‘Politics Today ’ programme monitored by The PUNCH .

He also said there was nothing medically wrong with him and he won ’t allow the people of the state to be used as “guinea pigs ”.

Nigeria had on Tuesday received about four million doses of AstraZeneca / Oxford COVID -19 vaccine shipped into the country through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport , Abuja .

Some health workers including the first Nigerian to receive the vaccine on the country ’ s soil , Dr. Cyprian Ngong of the National Hospital , Abuja , received shots of the vaccines when the exercise was flagged off by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 , Boss Mustapha , on Friday in Abuja .

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd .) , and Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo as well as some governors are also expected to receive shots of the vaccines on Saturday to dissipate vaccine hesitancy amongst Nigerians .

But speaking on Friday , the Kogi governor said , “ COVID -19 is not our business in Kogi State . We have more pertinent issues and more pertinent matters that we are attending to in Kogi State . Insecurity we met , we ’ve tackled it and several others . Disunity we met on ground and we have united Kogi State today not COVID – 19 .

“COVID -19 is just a minute aspect of what we are treating or handling in Kogi State ; there have been outbreaks of Lassa Fever and Yellow Fever and those were handled without making noise about it.

“ The last Yellow Fever ( outbreak ) , we vaccinated out people against Yellow Fever , we encouraged them , we educated them and they felt the impact … If the Federal Government is gracious enough and give us COVID – 19 vaccines , we will equally sensitise our people , people who wish to come and take can come and take but I am not going to subject the people of Kogi State to vaccines or vaccination and I will not make them the guinea pigs

Continuing , Bello said , “ Mr President is the leader of this country . I respect him so high ; all of us respect him so much. We love him and he is leading by example . If he needs to take the vaccines and he takes it, it is a welcome development.

“As far as I am concerned , I as a person, I don’t need to take vaccines . There is nothing wrong with me , I am hale and hearty . I am 100 per cent healthy … I won’ t take any vaccine . ”

Punch

Foreign

China Approves Sale of Traditional Medicine Products to Treat Covid-19

By Web News 924

China has approved three traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products for sale to help treat Covid-19, the government’s National Medical Products Administration announced on Wednesday.

The agency used a special approval procedure to green-light the three products, which “provide more options for Covid-19 treatment,” it said in a statement.

The herbal products come in granular form and trace their origins to “ancient Chinese prescriptions,” said the statement. They were developed from TCM remedies that had been used early in the pandemic, and that were “screened by many academics and experts on the front line.”

The three products are “lung-clearing and detoxing granules,” “dampness-resolving and detoxing granules,” and “lung-diffusing and detoxing granules,” said the statement.

The safety and effectiveness of TCM is still debated in China, where it has both adherents and skeptics. Though many of the remedies in TCM have been in use for hundreds of years, critics argue that there is no verifiable scientific evidence to support their supposed benefits.

In recent years, ancient remedies have been repeatedly hailed as a source of national pride by Chinese President Xi Jinping, himself a well-known TCM advocate.

“Traditional medicine is a treasure of Chinese civilization embodying the wisdom of the nation and its people,” Xi told a national conference on TCM in October 2019. Throughout the outbreak, Xi has repeatedly exhorted doctors to treat patients with a mix of Chinese and Western medicines.

Tens of thousands of Covid-19 patients received herbal remedies alongside mainstream antiviral

drugs last year, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

“By adjusting the whole body health and improving immunity, TCM can help stimulate the patients’ abilities to resist and recover from the disease, which is an effective way of therapy,” said Yu Yanhong, deputy head of China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in March 2020.

In a clinical trial of 102 patients with mild symptoms in Wuhan, patients with combined treatments compared with the control group of patients receiving only Western medicine, Yu said. Their recovery rate was 33% higher, she added.

By late March last year, China had gotten its outbreak largely under control — and though it has endured occasional flare-ups in various locations, numbers have stayed low and daily life has resumed. Restrictions have been lifted, allowing people to travel around the country and gather without face masks.

Authorities have praised TCM as helping contain Covid symptoms and limit the outbreak — in January this year, up to 60,000 doses of TCM were sent to front-line police officers to protect them from Covid-19, according to the TCM administration.

A number of provinces, including Jilin and Hebei, implemented “TCM Prevention Plans” in January to prescribe TCM to Covid patients.

Now, authorities are looking to expand the industry, which was estimated to exceed 3 trillion yuan ($430 billion) by 2020.

The country will aim to cultivate 100,000 TCM professionals within the next 10 years, and implement measures such as TCM curricula in schools, announced the General Office of the State Council this February. More TCM rehabilitation centers will be built, some with clinical research centers.

State media has also promoted TCM in its coverage; state-run news agency Xinhua reported that TCM offered a source of “hope” for Chinese Americans in New York when the city’s public health system was close to collapse, and that remedies have been adopted by Kuwait for Covid treatment.

The World Health Organization, which gave its first-ever endorsement of TCM in 2018, had originally advised against using traditional herbal remedies for Covid-19 on its website — though that line was later removed due to it being “too broad.”

Some in the biomedical community say WHO overlooked the toxicity of some herbal medicine and the lack of evidence that it works, while animal rights advocates say it will further endanger animals such as the tiger, pangolin, bear and rhino, whose organs are used in some TCM cures.

CNN

News Yoruba

Ilẹ̀ Nàijìrìa Ti Tẹ́wọ́ Gba Abala Àkọ́kọ́ Abẹ́rẹ́ Àjẹsára Tón Dènà Àrùn Covid-19

By Web News 640

Bí ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa se ti ńtẹ́wọ́gba abala àkọ́kọ́ abẹ́rk àjẹsára tí yóò máà dènà àrùn covid-19 lágọ ara lóni, àwọn olùgbé ìlú ìbàdàn kan ti késí ìjọba àpapọ̀, láti sese dédé lórí ọ̀rọ̀ pínpín abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára ọ̀hún.

Ìlú ìbàdàn niwọ́n ti sọ̀rọ̀ yíì di mimọ̀ fákọ̀ròyìn ilé-isẹ́ wa, méjì lára àwọn olùgbé náà, ọ̀gbẹ́ni Owolabi Kareem àti ọ̀gbẹ́ni David Bello dìjọ sọpé, ó se pàtàkì fúnjọba láti yàgò fún ojúsajú síse lórí ọ̀rọ̀ abẹ́rẹ́ àjẹsára náà yíká orílẹ̀èdè yíì.

Àwọn olùgbé ọ̀hún kò sàtún rọ àwọn olórí nílẹ̀ yíì láti túbọ̀ sisẹ́ tọ bí wọ́n yóò serí abẹ́rẹ́ náà gbà lọ́pọ̀ si, èyí tí yóò to fún gbogbo ọmọ ilẹ̀ yíì.

Níbàyíná, àwọn asojú ìjọba àpapọ̀ ti tẹ́wọ́gba abẹ́rk àjẹsára tón dènà àrùn covid-19 ní pápákọ̀ òfurufú Nnamdi Azikwe tó wà nílu Abuja.

Banjọ/Wojuade