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People, who suspect they have caught the novel coronavirus, should not take the popular drug ibuprofen without consulting a doctor, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
WHO gave the warning, on Tuesday, pointing to the ongoing research into possible negative effects. WHO’s spokesman, Christian Lindmeier, told a Geneva news conference that there are no recent studies that link the anti-inflammatory drug with increased mortality rates, but he added that experts are currently investigating the matter.
The Federal Government disclosed on Monday that despite the fact that coronavirus disease otherwise referred to as Covid-19 is yet to claim any life in Nigeria, the country was still at very high risk to it.
This is just as the government added France, Germany and Spain to its existing list of five high-risk countries with widespread community transmission. The Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, who was giving an update on the state of the Coronavirus in the country at a media briefing in Abuja, stressed the need to improve surveillance, detection and risk communications. He said:”Despite the fact that we have not recorded a confirmed COVID-19 case in the last one week in Nigeria, it is important to remember that we are still at high risk
Tuberculosis: Stakeholders call for more funding, treatment to meet 2030 target
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Relevant stakeholders have stressed the need to scale up funding, improve access to prevention and treatment of tuberculosis to enable Nigeria to meet the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of ending the epidemic.
The stakeholders made the call during a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja to mark the 2020 World TB Day with the theme “It’s Time to End TB in Nigeria. Dr Berthrand Odume, the Country Director of KNCV Foundation Nigeria, said that the efforts became necessary to accelerate an end to the TB epidemic in Nigeria and globally.
Nigeria has declared five days of free health services targeting nearly 20 million people across 409 lowest-performing local government areas. For five days each in March, April and June, residents in the affected local government areas will get free healthcare, medical consultation and minor surgeries, attend health talks and receive counselling under the Integrated Medical Outreach Programme (I-MOP).
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the programme at the Township Health Cenre in Bwari, one of the six council areas in the FCT,
NAFDAC outlines measures to control illicit drugs in Nigeria
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Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, has said the agency has finalised plans to enhance control of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
She disclosed that one of the control objectives of the agency is to ensure availability for medical and scientific uses while minimising the possibility of diversion to illicit channels and abuse. Speaking at the launch and dissemination of the 2019 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in Lagos,
Five new cases of the COVID-19 have been confirmed in Nigeria, the new cases are reported to be from the United State (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who confirmed this in an emergency press conference, said another five new cases of Coronavirus have been imported into the country.
The five new cases, according to him is bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to eight, even though the first two patients have been successfully treated and discharged. The minister, who made the announcement at an emergency press conference to update Nigerians on the COVID-19 spread said three of the new cases arrived from the United States (US); two of them a Nigerian mother and her six-week-old baby.
Coronavirus: Shut all borders now — Senate, House of Reps, NMA, others
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The Senate, House of Representatives and the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to shut all borders and urgently consider banning non-Nigerian travellers from countries with high risk of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The NMA wants a total shutdown of the nation’s borders, saying, at least, 730 people from high-risk countries of Coronavirus enter the country on a daily basis. This came on a day President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of National Sports Festival billed for next week in Edo State, following confirmation of a third case of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
FCT doctors begin strike over coronavirus threat, unpaid salaries
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The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has commenced an indefinite strike in the midst of the announcement of a new coronavirus case in Lagos. In a statement signed by its President, Roland Aigbovo, the doctors said that the decision was taken after deliberations on the threat posed by the coronavirus, working conditions in hospitals and care of patients.
The striking doctors, who described the decision as a difficult one to take, said the failure of the FCT administration to pay their basic salaries for more than two months contributed in part to the decision.
Lagos State Taskforce on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods has shut 32 pharmacies and patent medicine stores for offences bordering on illegal operation and operating beyond scope of practice. The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, who disclosed this recently after reviewing the report of the first enforcement exercise carried out by the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry for year 2020 said that the affected premises include those located in Dopemu, Mangoro, Cement, Oniwaya, Ayobo-Ipaja, OrileAgege, Akinogun, Mosan and Ikola axis of Agege and Alimosho Local Government Areas of the state.
Abayomi noted that the sealing of the affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provisions of Section C34
Covid-19: Ethiopian Airlines delivers medical supplies to Nigeria
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In addition to the provision that has been made by the Federal Government for use in the prevention and treatment of the COVID19, more medical supplies as donations have been brought in Tuesday by an Ethiopian Airlines Freighter.
The aircraft landed today at Lagos Airport International Airport by 3.20 PM to deliver Medical Supplies From the Jack Ma Foundation. In a statement, ET General Manager, Firihiewot Mekonnen says the airline is pleased to deliver these much needed critical medical supplies and equipment which helps in the global fight against the COVID-19. “We appreciate the donation of the Jack Ma Foundation and the generosity of Mr Jack Ma. We admire our Prime Minister, H.E. Dr Abiy Ahmed for his initiative and organization of the entire coordination of the process.
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COVID-19: Presidency assures quality healthcare, says virus not a death sentence
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The Presidency has assured that all those who tested positive to the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) would receive adequate medical attention, saying Coronavirus was not a death sentence. Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, gave the assurance while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.
The presidential aide, who cited the recovery of the index case to buttress his point, emphasised that anybody that tested positive should not panic as the virus was curable. “We also will pray along with the persons, give them our goodwill and best wishes and they will surely come out of it. Even the index case in Nigeria recovered and has been discharged.
The acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, has promised that the agency will provide ventilators and oxygen as part of its contribution to the fight against coronavirus.
He said they would intervene to protect the people of Niger Delta from the dreaded disease. Speaking at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Pondei said as an interventionist agency, the commission would collaborate with other stakeholders in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID 19: Pharmacists caution carrier on indiscriminate intake of Chloroquine
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The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria ACPN, has called on infected Nigerians to desist from indiscriminate consumption of chloroquine as a measure to cure dreaded Corona virus as suggested by US president, Donald Trump.
In statement, ACPN, national chairman, Dr. Samuel Adekola stated: ” ….We find it necessary to caution Nigerians against the indiscriminate and excessive consumption of chloroquine and similar medicines in the quest to obviously prevent COVID -19. “Bodies like FDA and NAFDAC have only approved the use of chloroquine in the clinical trials
UBA Donates N5 Billion To COVID-19 Relief Support Across Africa
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The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced a donation of over N5billion (USD14 million), through the UBA Foundation, to catalyse a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.
According to a statement signed by Ramon Nasir, Head, External and Media Relations of the bank, “The donation will provide significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to governments.” The breakdown of the donation shows that the Lagos State Government will get N1 billion; the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will receive N500 million, while N1billion will be shared among the remaining 35 states in the country.
