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),

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.

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.”

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control says it destroyed fake drugs and counterfeit products worth N3.2 billion in Kano State in the last two years.

Mr. Shaba Mohammed, the state’s Coordinator of the Agency, said this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Kano. Mohammed said that the illicit drugs, fake and counterfeit products were seized during various joint operations performed by the operatives from the agency and other stakeholders in the state.

In the last few weeks, COVID-19 infection rates have been on the decline in Nigeria and many Nigerians are wondering if the country has reached the peak of the outbreak. The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu speaks to Chioma Obinna on this development and challenges in the response.

He speaks on Nigeria’s case-fatality while maintaining that chloroquine is only used at the clinical trial level in the country. Excerpts: Current COVID-19  situation in Nigeria.