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Threat Of Coronavirus Overwhelming Africa’s Fragile Health System – WHO
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern that the threat of COVID-19 overwhelming fragile health systems on the African continent is escalating. The global health body worry that COVID-19 infections in Africa has surpassed 500 000, and growing number of countries are experiencing a sharp rise in cases.
“ln less than five months, the virus has claimed 11, 959 lives, overtaking the 11, 308 lives lost in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. “Cases have more than doubled in 22 countries in the region over the past month. Nearly two-thirds of countries are experiencing community transmission.
Accredit More Private Hospitals For COVID-19 Treatment, Lagos Assembly Tells Sanwo-Olu
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The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi to accredit more private hospitals to treat those that are infected with COVID-19.
The governor was also urged to work with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on the fight against COVID-19. The issue was part of the resolutions of the Assembly on Motion Number 23, 2020 entitled; “Need To Allow Private Hospitals Participate In The Treatment of COVID-19 Patients,” by Hon. Hakeem Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) during plenary.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference organized by Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents (ACANU) amid the COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel coronavirus, at the WHO headquarters in Geneva Switzerland on July 3, 2020 AFP[/caption]
The World Health Organization, which faced fierce US criticism over its handling of the coronavirus crisis, launched an independent panel on Thursday to review its response to the pandemic. The Independent panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response will be headed by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
At least 35 doctors have so far tested positive for coronavirus in Kwara State since the virus manifested in the state. Speaking with journalists on Monday at the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association in Ilorin, the chairman of the association, Dr Kolade Solagberu, however, said the association had not recorded any casualty among its members.
The NMA chairman, who cautioned residents of the state that COVID-19 is real, added that they should disregard rumours saying the pandemic was only a money-making avenue for the government.
Medical doctors in the employ of Lagos State Government have commenced a three-day warning strike over the alleged disparity between their wage and that of their counterparts working for the Federal Government. The doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild, took the action after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given to the state government on the issue.
Other grievances of the health workers include non-approval of COVID-19 hazard allowances and inducement allowances Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) approved by the Federal Government to doctors.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Monday said a new evidence has showed that airborne transmission of COVID-19 is possible. It urged citizens to absolutely wear a face mask and adhere to other non-pharmaceutical protocols, such as avoiding mass gatherings, practising social distancing and maintaining hand hygiene by washing of hands.
Speaking during the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said: “Over the past few weeks, increasing evidence has emerged that in addition to droplet infection we cannot rule out that airborne transmission is also possible
At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, there was full compliance as doctors shunned their duty posts, leaving many patients stranded. Similar scenarios played out in other state-owned hospitals, as doctors in the employ of Lagos State heeded the Guild’s directive.
Although doctors on COVID-19 assignment were exempted from the strike, all the 26 general hospitals and 256 public healthcare centres owned by the state were inactive. At a briefing to announce the warning strike, chairman of the Guild, Dr. Oluwajimi Sodipo,
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are currently over 609,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Africa.
The UN health agency gave the update on its regional official Twitter account @WHOAFRO on Tuesday. “There are over 609,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 305,000 recoveries and 13,000 deaths,’’ it said.
Lagos Govt, Striking Doctors Have Resolved Major Issues ― Sanwo-Olu
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Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday said his government and striking doctors in the state have resolved the major issue that led to the strike, saying it was all due to inadequate communication and misunderstanding.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who described the situation as unfortunate, disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba where he commemorated the Year 2020 Tree Planting Day and commissioned a 36-chamber morgue donated by IHS Towers to the state government.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than 8,000 health workers have been infected with novel COVID-19 in the Africa Region. WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, disclosed this on its official Twitter account @WHOAFRO on Tuesday.
“This is why Infection Prevention Control (IPC) awareness is vital for all. “WHO and partners have trained more than 50,000 health workers to protect themselves and patients. “The organisation aims to reach over 200,000 in 2020,’’ it said.
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The Commissioner for Health in Plateau, Dr Nimkong Lar, has said that 57 health workers were infected with COVID-19 in the course of their legitimate duties in various health centres in the state.
Lar stated this at a press briefing after an executive council meeting on Wednesday in Jos. He said that they were workers managing COVID-19 patients in primary health centres, hospitals and private clinics across the state. According to him, the state has a total of 571 confirmed cases with a record of 28 cases on Tuesday, which is the highest recorded so far.
The World Health Organisation and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have warned of an alarming decline in the number of children receiving life-saving vaccines around the world because of COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO, in a statement posted on its website, stated that the decline was due to disruptions in the delivery and uptake of immunisation services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to new data by WHO and UNICEF, these disruptions threaten to reverse hard-won progress to reach more children and adolescents with a wider range of vaccines, which has already been hampered by a decade of stalling coverage.
Lagos doctors suspend strike, govt begins health workers’ recruitment
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Doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild, Lagos State, have suspended their three-day warning strike which began on Monday. The Secretary of the guild, Dr Ismail Ajibowo, in an interview with our correspondent, said the doctors would resume work on Thursday.
He said, “We decided to suspend the strike to allow for further engagement with the state government on our demands. We expect our members to resume work tomorrow (Thursday) morning.” Ajibowo said negotiation with the state government would continue and the guild would release a statement soon.
Nigeria recorded 643 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, bringing total cases to 34,259. Announcing via its website, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said six more coronavirus-associated deaths were reported in the country on Wednesday, bringing total confirmed fatalities to 760.
It added that 13, 999 coronavirus patients have been discharged upon treatment and recovery from the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and 35 states.
