Frontpage News (3256)
COVID-19: Nigerian Air Force distributes oxygen to isolation centres
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The Nigerian Air Force has commenced the distribution of oxygen produced at its Liquid Oxygen Plant to coronavirus isolation centres in the country.
NAF also said it has started sharing the oxygen at selected hospitals as part of response to end the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. “I’m glad to note that the Nigerian Air Force has started distributing the oxygen being produced at its Liquid Oxygen Plant to isolation centres and designated hospitals across the country in support of the national response to COVID-19 pandemic,” AVM OA Adesanya, a NAF Defence
Nigeria to expand coronavirus testing capacity to all states
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Nigerian Government has begun plans to expand the testing capacity to all 36 states and the nation’s capital Abuja.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Medical Officer for COVID_19 Case Management Team, Dr Sandra Mba, disclosed this in a tweet chat with The Guardian on Wednesday. “Currently @NCDCgov has expanded the testing capacity to 12 labs in Nigeria. The platform being used for testing currently is RT-PCR,” Mba said. “However, NCDC also has a plan to expand the testing capacity to all 36 states & FCT using other validated methods and working closely with partners,” she added.
Contrary to widely published reports that the conventional vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) offers protection against the novel coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, dismissed the claim.
The apex United Nations health body said there was no evidence that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG) protects people against the virus. The global agency stated that clinical trials relating to the issue were underway, adding that their outcome would be evaluated in due course. It said: “In the absence of evidence, WHO does not recommend BCG vaccination for the prevention of COVID-19.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention plans to distribute a million COVID-19 test kits from next week to help the continent tackle a glaring shortfall in testing, its director, John Nkengasong, said Thursday.
“There is a big gap on the continent on testing,” Nkengasong said at a weekly press conference at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. “Something has to be done.”
NAFDAC warns Nigerians against apple, blackcurrant from Australia
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians to stop the consumption of an organic apple and black currant originating from Australia.
Prof. Moji Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director-General, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the products had been certified harmful for human consumption. “The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has warned against the consumption of Pure Tassie Organic Apple and Blackcurrant Juice originating from Australia.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that African countries can defeat the coronavirus pandemic, in the same manner, it eradicated the Wild Polio Virus on the continent.
The president spoke at the formal certification of the Wild Polio Virus eradication in the African region during the virtual session of the 70th World Health Organisation (WHO) regional committee for Africa, at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday. ‘‘I recall that shortly after assuming office in May 2015, I made a pledge to Nigerians that I would not bequeath a polio-endemic country to my successor.
A Paediatric Nurse and HIV Counselor, Mrs Roseline Solarin has disclosed that no fewer than 1.9million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDs. Citing UNAIDS and National Agency for the Control of AIDS statistics, Mrs Solarin said the surge in HIV/AIDS was common among people within the ages of 15 and 49, adding that Nigeria remained the highest HIV/AIDS endemic country in the world.
The Chief Nursing Officer who doubles as Chairperson of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwifery Association of Nigeria(NANNM),
NCDC announces 443 new COVID-19 cases, as total infections hit 45,687
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 443 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 45,687.
The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Friday. The health agency noted that six more persons have died from the disease. According to it, till date, 45,687 cases have been confirmed, 32,637 cases have been discharged, and 936 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Why most Pharmacists are yet to access CBN’s N100bn fund for health sector, by PSN
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Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have given reasons why most of their members are yet to access the N100 billion Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) intervention fund for the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry.
President, PSN, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, yesterday, told journalists: “The PSN has noted with pleasure that some healthcare/pharmaceutical companies that applied for the special N100 billion CBN facility have been granted. Nevertheless, we are distressed that the majority of the applicants are yet to be successful.”
Lagos health commission admonishes health workers on good electoral conduct
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Dr Adebayo Aderiye, the Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, on Wednesday urged health practitioners to show good professional conduct while participating in the medical electoral process.
Aderiye gave the advice on Wednesday during the visit of an eight-man delegate of the newly inaugurated executives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos chapter.
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Doctors down tools in Cross River over kidnap of colleague
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Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River State branch, has commenced indefinite strike to protest the kidnap of its member, Dr. Vivien Mesembe.
Briefing newsmen at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar yesterday, after its August 29 emergency meeting, the NMA led by its chairman, Dr. Innocent Abang, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security in the state and order the
Nasarawa orders medical doctors on payroll to close their private hospitals or face sack
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Nasarawa State government has resolved to sack any medical doctor who is on government payroll and still run a private hospital.
The state Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarin Kana, who spoke to journalists yesterday after the state executive council meeting, added that they must close down their private hospitals. He said the action would allow them concentrate on their responsibilities and avoid diverting patients to their private hospitals.
FCT minister approves payment as resident doctors begin strike
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The strike by Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration chapter, over non-payment of their COVID – 19 hazard and inducement allowances commenced on Tuesday with compliance in different hospitals.
The strike action was meant to be in the 14 general and district hospitals in the FCT, including the Department of Public and Primary Healthcare. The NAN reported that there was compliance at the general hospitals in Kubwa, Wuse, Maitama, Nyanya and Asokoro. A source, however, said patients with severe cases were given medical attention by doctors who are not on residency.
Presidency Says Buhari’s Aide Did Not Test Positive For COVID-19
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Nigerian presidency on Wednesday refuted a media report that an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Sarki Abba, tested positive for COVID-19.
“We react to the utter falsehood and disgraceful lies, a report by the so-called digital newspaper which, Wednesday, claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Sarki Abba is COVID-19 positive,” presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement.
