Some 24,000 health workers in South Africa have contracted coronavirus, 181 of whom have died, since the pandemic hit the country in March, the health minister announced on Wednesday.

South Africa is the hardest-hit country in Africa with at least 521,318 infections diagnosed so far, accounting for more than half the continent's cases. Health Minister Zweli Mkwize told a news conference that the numbers of health workers who tested positive for coronavirus stood at 24,104 with 181 deaths. The tally translates to around five percent of the country's total caseload, compared to the global rate of some 10 percent, he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Innocent Ujah on his election as President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, also congratulated all the executive members for the zeal and diligence brought into the organisation within a short period. 

According to him, the elected officers of the NMA have admirable profiles that will take the organisation to greater heights. He particularly acknowledged that Mr Ujah, a professor, has worked extensively with national and international institutions, and progressively contributed to the shaping of national policies on health in the country in different capacities.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that it is working hard to ensure that Nigerians have access to the coronavirus vaccines when available. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, gave the assurance during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 on Monday in Abuja.

Ihekweazu said that the centre was working with the global community to ensure access. He disclosed that data on research and development of a vaccine against COVID-19 by the global scientific community showed that results on a possible vaccine were expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 total cases have now reached 44,433 after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 304 new cases and 910 deaths from infections in the country.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Tuesday. Data from the health agency showed that the 304 new cases were spread across 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT). According to it, as of Aug. 4, 14 deaths were recorded in the country.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Prof Innocent Ujah has apologised to Nigerians over the reported clashes of violence during the Enugu State branch of the NMA election that held last week. Ujah, who spoke through a statement, said electoral violence in any form does not represent what the Nigerian doctor stands for.

It could be recalled that the election of the Enugu State branch of the NMA turned bloody on Thursday last week following the subsequent appointment of one of the Deputy Vice-Chairman Enugu East, Dr Kinsley Ugwuonye, as acting chairman by a faction of the state NMA which announced the suspension of the incumbent chairman,

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has asked the United States to share the COVID-19 vaccine with Nigeria and other countries whenever it is available. 

He noted that the speed and ease with which the virus had spread across the globe clearly showed that it was a threat to mankind, stressing that “the threat of COVID-19 to any part of the world is a threat to all.”  The minister stated this on Tuesday during the presentation of 200 ventilators to the Federal Government by the US Ambassador to Nigeria,

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday revealed the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa surged to 1,064,546 as the death toll rose to 23,839. The Africa CDC Director, John Nkengasong, made the announcement in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

The Africa CDC, in its latest situation update issued on Wednesday, said the number of COVID-19 cases across the African continent has risen from 1, 055, 964 on Tuesday to 1,064, 546 as of Wednesday. The Africa CDC also noted that the continent-wide COVID-19 related death toll registered an increase of 257 deaths compared to Tuesday’s 23,582 to reach 23, 839.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved N8.49billion for the procurement of 12 items in various quantities for the testing of coronavirus pandemic by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the 11th virtual meeting of the Council, held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Federal Government (FG), yesterday, said Nigeria had not placed order for any vaccines from Russia. It made the clarification following reports that about 20 countries had ordered billions of the controversial Russian vaccine, which were approved by the Russian authority. 

Also yesterday, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and other medical experts commended Russia and her scientists for approving their COVID-19 vaccine.