By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 643 new cases of coronavirus COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected people in the country to 140,391.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country continues to report a trend of steadily declining active cases, for the second day after the active cases dropped below 1,000 mark for the third time since January.

The first lowest daily count was on Jan. 2, 2021 when 576 people were confirmed positive with the virus and the second lowest this year was Feb. 7 when NCDC registered 506 infections.

According to it, the country has so far tested 1,398,630 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded on Feb. 27, 2020 in the country.

The public health agency also announced additional six COVID-19 related deaths on Monday along with the 643 new infections which occurred in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC stated that Oyo, Lagos and Rivers recorded the highest number of COVID-19 infections on Monday, with 88, 86 and 55 cases respectively.

In the states, Edo recorded 54; Akwa Ibom (53); Adamawa (52); Plateau (45); Kaduna (41); Kwara (27); Benue (20) and Kano (19).

Delta had 18 new infections, Nasarawa (16); Niger (15); Bayelsa (11); Borno (five);  Bauchi (two) and Sokoto (two).  The FCT had 34 new infections.

The NCDC pointed out that 1,110 people were discharged from isolation centres across the country after testing negative to the virus.

“Our discharges today include 744 community recoveries in Lagos State, 100 in Rivers, 78 in Plateau, 72 in Kaduna State and two in Benue, all managed in line with guidelines,” it added.

The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, is coordinating response activities nationwide.

NAN recalls that the country last week logged 8,000 COVID-19 cases from 96,220 tests, bringing the total to 139,242 out of 1,398,630 samples, to date.

The country has also sadly lost 1, 647 people while 112,557 people have been successfully treated and discharged.

Nigeria, in its response strategy, still focuses on four pillars which include infection mitigation with stricter implementation of public health measures, upgrading and refining therapeutics, vaccines, which have become a central global topic, and maintenance of routine and essential health and hospital services such as antenatal care.

Improvement in therapeutic strategy may seem to be yielding result with case fatality rate now at 1.2 per cent but the sheer number of cases makes any improvement in case fatality rate inappreciable. (NAN)

By Ikenna Osuoha

Mr Batholomew Ochonye, Country Director, Heartland Alliance International (HAI) says the organisation is committed to ensuring a HIV free Nigeria.

Ochonye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that efforts were on to  ensure that all Nigerians lived their lives to full potentials.

He said that this was achievable through provision of access to adequate healthcare.

“Heartland Alliance is also committed to a future where all Nigerians will live life to the fullest, have affordable healthcare as well as social and economic justice using human rights based approaches.

“We have provided mental health and psychological support as well as increased access to highly active anti retroviral treatment for the key populations living with HIV in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Lagos,” Ochonye said.

The country director explained that the group had also increased access to sexual and reproductive health services in all the LGAs in Benue and 10 local governments areas in Lagos.

Ochonye said the target included females of reproductive age who used drugs, as well as sex workers.

According to him, HAI had supported children of key populations who were living with HIV to access pediatrics anti retroviral as well as managing other childhood illnesses.

“Other interventions include diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, screening and referral for viral hepatitis and cervical cancer as well as other related services.

“We currently implement and scale up tuberculosis prevention and treatment program at the community level to ensure proper management of TB/HIV co-infection,” Ochonye said.

He expressed readiness of the alliance to galvanise Nigeria’s healthcare system while commending the Federal Government for its support.

“As a gender responsive program, our interventions are tailored to the challenges expressed by individuals and groups as well as communities,” Ochonye said.

He reaffirmed the determination of the organisation in investing in building community capacity to be resilient in fighting injustice and inhuman treatment against vulnerable and most marginalised persons.

“We have engaged with relevant government agencies to influence policies that seek to increase access to life-saving commodities and products from health to social and economic development.

“We work with victims of trafficking in North East Nigeria and beyond as we have supported the reunification of families with loved ones trafficked outside Nigeria,” Ochonye added.  (NAN)

By Tosin Kolade

Toilet Kulture Initiative (TKI) an NGO on Monday donated no fewer than 168 disposable pads to female students of School for Special needs in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was part of the group’s `TKIPadHerUp’ project.

The Executive Director of the group, Mrs Elsie Ozika, said that the gesture was to ‘pad up’ the girl-child with the accurate information, absorbents, and the provision of water and sanitation facilities during menstruation.

Ozika noted that the “PadHerUp” campaign adopted the Integrated and Holistic Three-Pronged (IHTP) approach to break silence, manage menstruation hygienically and promote safe reuse and disposal of menstrual materials.

She said there was the need to break the silence by raising awareness and increasing understanding that menstruation was a natural phenomenon.

According to her, all stakeholders ought to encourage girls to discuss and talk about their periods in an informed and positive manner.

Ozika said in managing menstruation hygienically and safely, there was the need to ensure the availability of adequate water, cleaning and washing materials, private spaces (Toilets) for managing their menstrual flow hygienically and privately.

“Recent discussions are focused on the global outbreak of the coronavirus, which is fast impacting negatively not only on human health but economic and social wellbeing of all mankind.

“There is also a growing recognition of the unique health risks that menstruating women and girls face due to inadequate sanitation facilities, especially during pandemics as we presently are faced with.

“In developing and poor countries, the lack of information about menstrual hygiene as well as materials to manage oneself properly, creates a culture of taboos and misinformation about menstruation and potential health risks including reproductive tract infection such as vaginal infections’’.

Ozika noted that the growing concern about gender–unfriendly school culture and infrastructure and lack of safe and private sanitation facilities for female teachers and girls undermine the right of privacy.

According to her, involvement of men and boys in menstrual hygiene conversations will help to provide support and change current narrative of poor menstrual hygiene practices.

The school’s Assistant Head of Administration, Malam Yahaya Mohammed, while commending the group for the donations, called for more support from the government and individuals.

According to Mohammed in a separate interview, children living with special needs are special as no amount of money will be enough to take care of them.

The children were also trained on effective hand washing techniques, and how to manage menstruation effectively.

The outreach also featured talks from Prudence Oryina, winner of the Miss Tourism Queen of Africa, who is TKI’s brand ambassador and face of the ‘Beauty 4 WASH’ project, working to promote WASH in schools. (NAN)

By Olateju Esther

Dr Rotimi Owolabi, a Public Health Physician and Clinical Researcher in Abuja says
the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and advised Nigerians to take it to prevent contracting the virus when it becomes available.

Owolabi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday assured the public that research had shown
that the vaccine had no serious side effect and effective in checking the spread of the disease.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Feb. 2 at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 national briefing in Abuja
said “Nigeria is expected to receive the first batch of 15 million COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca under the COVAX programme.

Although the minister was not specific on the date or time, he disclosed that the government had been advised to expect the
first batch of the vaccines from February.

Also in a communique issued by Kayode Fayemi, Head of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the country had been working with the
World Bank to ensure the supply of the vaccine in the country.

He stated that “Nigeria is among 12 countries in Africa that have indicated readiness of the 92 qualified countries for the
facility and will by end of February 2021 receive its first shipment of vaccines.’’

The public health physician, therefore, explained that the vaccine had been evaluated in clinical trials with procedures in place
to ensure its safety before approval for use.

He, however, advised the public to “always observe the COVID-19 protocols through frequent washing of hands, observing social distance and use fact mask while we wait for the vaccine.

“There is need to adhere to the protocols to check further spread of the virus.”

Meanwhile, some Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions on whether or not they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine when made available in the country.

Mr Samuel Ojo, a businessman in Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), told NAN that he would not allow any member of
his family to take the vaccine until he was certain that it had no side effects.

“My family members and i are not willing to take the vaccine because it is obvious that it is dangerous and weakens the cells.”

Also, Mrs Ngozi Uche, a Teacher in Abuja, also said she would not take the vaccine, as she and her family had been complying with
the COVID-19 guidelines, “as such, we are not at risk of contracting the disease.”

She added that her family had cultivated the habit of taking local herbs and spices such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, lemon and hot water as precautionary measures against the diseases, stressing that “the herbs and spices will boost our immunity.”

However, Mr Musa Umar, a civil servant also residing in the FCT, said he was ready to take the vaccine when available, but called on
government officials and prominent Nigerians to take it first.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on its official twitter handle that while efforts were in progress to access safe and
effective vaccines, it recorded 506 new cases of COVID-19 in the country from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7.

It noted that the centre also recorded a total of 1,667 deaths, with 113525 discharged cases, bringing the total number of infected people to 139,748 since the first case of the virus was confirmed on Feb. 27, 2020. (NAN)

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 506 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 139,748.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria recorded a sharp drop in COVID-19 cases against 1,588 on Feb. 6

The health agency said that 20 deaths were, however, recorded, pushing the casualty figure from 1,647 to 1,667, in the last 24 hours in the country.

It said that the 506 new infections were reported from 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

NCDC stated that Ondo state led the chart with 90 new infections on Sunday, followed by Kwara 89 and River 53.

It said that 968 COVID-19 patients successfully treated were discharged from isolation centres across the country.

Other people discharged included 360 community recoveries in Lagos State, 138 in Osun State, 121 in Plateau State, 89 in Imo State and 38 in Kano State managed in line with its guidelines.

The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, is coordinating response activities nationwide.

Meanwhile, the agency has recommended the following precautions to avoid infection with the COVID-19 virus:

“Avoid close contact. This means avoiding close contact within about six feet, or two meters with anyone who is sick or has symptoms. Also, keep distance between yourself and others. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.

“Wear cloth face coverings in public places. Cloth face coverings offer extra protection in places such as the grocery store, where it is difficult to avoid close contact with others. Surgical masks may be used if available. N95 respirators should be reserved for health care providers.

“Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.

”Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items if you’re sick. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily.

“Stay home from work, school and public areas if you’re sick, unless you’re going to get medical care. Avoid public transportation, taxis and ride-sharing if you’re sick.

If you have a chronic medical condition and may have a higher risk of serious illness, check with your doctor about other ways to protect yourself,” it advised.

By Ummul Idris

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), to embrace dialogue on the planned amendment of five health bills.

The President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.

“NMA wishes to invite JOHESU members to join forces with medical and dental practitioners to improve the health circumstances of our people, rather than threatening to go on strike for the wrong treasons at any slightest excuse.

“I wish to appeal to government and good spirited individuals to advise members of JOHESU and their cohorts on the issue.

“They should stop expressing their frustrations towards a very intelligent group and members of the noble profession of human medicine,’’ Ujah stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the NMA and JOHESU have been at odds over plans by the National Assembly to amend five health bills.

“The NMA believes that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill is intended to further strengthen the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,’’ Ujah stated.

He noted that the amendment would regulate the medical and dental professions, to protect the public by ensuring that registered medical practitioners and dental surgeons were competent to practice safe, ethical and responsible medicine.

“We fully support the bill and call on members of the professions allied to medicine and dentistry and members of the public to support the bill for the advancement of quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria,’’ said Ujah.

The NMA chief criticized JOHESU members for “their penchant for blackmailing Nigerian doctors and government at the slightest opportunity”, saying that such blackmails should cease.

Ujah lamented that charlatans had been brazenly and openly referring to themselves as doctors, in spite of the existence of a laws against such, due what he described as the failure of law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities in the country.

On Feb. 1, the Senate held a public hearing on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill SB. 480 and four other Bills.

However, members of JOHESU are opposed to the amendment, a development that has generated bitter differences with their NMA counterparts.

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 1,588 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 139,242.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that since the pandemic emerged in the country, number of tests conducted has increased while testing and reporting techniques have improved, leading to a rise in reported cases.

However, the number of diagnosed cases is only a part of the real total number of infections as a significant number of less serious or asymptomatic cases always remain undetected.

NCDC said that the country had so far tested 1,302,410 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded on Feb. 27, 2020.

The public health agency also registered additional six coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,647 in the country.

It said that the new infections were reported from 20 states, and Lagos, the country’s epicentre for the disease outbreak, leading the pack with 535.

Other states  with new cases were, Anambra 218, Oyo 155, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 150, Kano 124, Gombe 60,  Kaduna 49, Ebonyi 48, Plateau 46, Akwa Ibom 39, Niger 37, Edo 33, Katsina 23, Rivers 18, Taraba 15, Nasarawa 14, Ogun 11, Delta 10,  Ekiti 2 and Jigawa 2.

The health agency also disclosed that 918 people were successfully treated and had been discharged from various isolation center across the country, bringing the total number of recoveries to 112,557 in 36 states and the FCT.

It added that those discharged on Saturday included 498 community recoveries in Lagos State, 64 in Kano State and 54 in Plateau State, managed in line with its guidelines.

The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, is coordinating response activities nationwide.

NAN reports that as a result of corrections by the NCDC or late publication of data, the figures updated over the past 24 hours might not correspond exactly to the previous day’s tallies.

By Bolaji Buhari

The Federal Government has debunked media reports making the rounds that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has delisted Nigeria from the list of African countries to receive its COVID-19 vaccines as misplaced.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed faulted the reports on Saturday while speaking on a radio programme,monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos .

He said Nigeria was still on the list adding that the purported delisting of the country owing to lack of storage facilities to store the vaccines was a misrepresentation of the facts .

“The report is untrue; It is not correct at all.WHO has not delisted Nigeria from the list of vaccine beneficiaries.

“What happened was that Nigeria was to get 100,000 doses of vaccines from Pfizer in January ,which the pharmaceutical company later said would be delivered in February.

“”Even while we were awaiting the delivery for Pfizer’s vaccines ,we had already put in place storage facilities that could store up to 400,000 doses of the vaccine at -70 degree Celsius.

“The is apart from the storage facilities put in place by states in the country . So the issue of lack of storage facilities is not true .

“And you know COVID-19 vaccines are limited in supply and that informed why WHO thought that if countries should get the vaccines based on affordability, so many would not get the vaccines .

“So they decided to deliver millions of doses to countries that might not be able to get them easily.

“So they promised Nigeria 41 million doses free with the initial delivery of 16 million doses of Oxford -AstraZeneca vaccinee to come this month “, he said .

The minister said the WHO opted to send Oxford’s vaccines first because it could be stored in a relatively higher temperature .

Mohammed, however, said all vaccines sent into the country would have to be certified safe by NAFDAC before they would be accepted.

On the Executive Order recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the adherence to safety measures against COVID-19,the minister said the step was taken to safeguard the health of citizens .

He said the President took the step as many citizens were not adhering to extant COVID-19 safety protocols.

The minister appealed to citizens to always take precautions against the pandemic to guarantee their safety and that of others .

He said the Federal Government had implemented a lot of intiatives under its Economic Sustainable Plan to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on citizens and businesses.

He said the initiatives such as Payroll Support ,Grants to artisans had benefited hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.

Mohammed said the government was committed to making life better for all citizens and would continue to implement programmes to positively impact on the lives of Nigerians.