By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 1,270  new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of infections to 102,601.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official website on Tuesday.

The public health institute confirmed 12 new deaths in the past 24 hours. This takes the nation’s death toll to 1,373 .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country has so far tested 1,033,858 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded in the country on Feb. 27, 2020.

The agency said the new infections were reported from 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the breakdown released on Tuesday by health agency, Lagos takes the lead with 435 infections, FCT 234, Oyo 103, and  Plateau 86.

Other states with new infections were Rivers-71, Enugu-51, Nasarawa-41, Delta-39, Edo-39, Osun-33, Niger-31, Sokoto-23, Ondo-16, Taraba-13, Ebonyi-12, Kano-10, Abia-9, Bayelsa-8, Bauchi-7, Imo-5, Katsina-3, and Gombe-1.

The NCDC disclosed that 1,083 additional patients had been discharged after they tested negative.

Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries and discharges has risen to  81,574.

According to the agency, a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, is coordinating response activities nationwide.

NAN reports that the country’s active cases stand at 19,654, while only two states – Kogi and Cross River – have no active cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 12.

By Gabriel Yough

Dr Innocent Vakkai, the Taraba commissioner for Health, on Tuesday, denied local media reports that he embezzled the sum of N1.2 billion COVID-19 funds given to the state by the Federal Government to tackle the virus.

Vakkai, who is also the Chairman, Taraba Technical Committee On COVID -19, refuted the allegations at a media briefing, in Jalingo, saying that the publication was the imagination of the publisher and thus false, with no iota of truth.

He explained that all the monies sent to the state for support and management of COVID-19 were paid directly into the state government’s account and not to the committee or individuals.

“I want to state here categorically that the state technical committee can only apply for funds through the Taraba government account section, we don’t have an account where support funds can be paid into for me to divert.

“If one is to apply for funds, one will first of all state reasons and items, why you need such funds, you also report back to the state government with receipts of your expenditure on how the funds were expended.

“The newspaper accused me of building a gigantic hospital in Abuja and Yola with COVID-19 funds, I want to tell the whole world that it is not true.

“I have no single health care center to my name anywhere in Nigeria, let a alone a big hospital, I will be happy if he can go and point at these structures to anybody or even to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” Vakkai said.

Vakkai, however,  said:  “I also want to disclose that we collected a sum of N1 billion from the FG and the money was used to provide Personal Protection equipment for our frontline workers.

”We also used part of it to provide equipment for our two treatment centers at the Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, and General Hospital, Takum.

“We are a 30-man COVID-19 Technical Committee and how can I possibly manipulate these men and bypass the state government account section and divert even more than we have been supported with in the first place,” he said.

In his reaction, Mr Danjuma Adamu, the state Commissioner for information and Orientation, who is also a member of the technical committee, described the news as fake, urging the public to disregard it. (NAN)

By Ikenna Osuoha

Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older People in Nigeria (COSROPIN) has  called on the Federal Government to prioritise the healthcare of the elderly to reduce their vulnerability to COVID-19 infection.

Sen. Eze Ajoku, President of the coalition, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He expressed concerns over the impact of the second phase of COVID-19 on older people.

Ajoku, reacting to recent COVID-19 linked deaths of older persons such as Prof. Oye Ibidabo-Obe and others, said that there was a need for urgent action to mitigate the strain of the second phase of the pandemic on older people.

He reiterated the need for preventive interventions.

Ajoku said that concerted action was needed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 across all aspects of long-term care, including home and community-based care.

He, however, admonished older people to always comply with the health protocols of hand washing, the use of  facemasks and physical distancing.

“We can directly reduce the disease by ensuring regular testings, provision of healthcare, and observing safety protocols.

“This would indirectly reduce the severity of the disease on the people most likely to get sick and transmit the virus,” he said.

Emphasising on the need for home delivery of healthcare for older people, Ajoku added that facemasks and other safety protocols should be seen as a responsibility of all.

He noted that COVID-19 would reduce the number of healthcare workers as well as long-term facilities, thereby increasing the brunt of older persons’ underlining sicknesses.

He, therefore, warned older people against mingling with crowds, which he said was the biggest cause of community transmission.

“We have called on the government to provide geriatric wards in all Federal Medical Centres and Teaching Hospitals to safeguard older persons and provide targeted care,” he said.

He, however, called for adequate supply of food and healthcare facilities, especially in the rural areas, to foster old peoples’ health in the second phase of COVID-19.

“Many people, especially older persons who have not lost relations and friends, do not think COVID-19 is real.

“They should make hey to protect themselves first while doubting, because life does not give a second chance,” he said.

He said that older people with co-morbidities and frailty with high susceptibility to COVID-19 should be accorded priority in the containment through information and provision of healthcare facilities.

“Although, the speed and impact of the pandemic on older people with frailty justify an approach where they are offered healthcare wherever they are located first,” he said.  (NAN)

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in partnership with other UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have announced the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile to help fight against the deadly virus.

WHO, in a statement posted on its website, announced that the vaccine stockpile would help to control future epidemics by ensuring timely access to vaccines for populations at risk during outbreaks.

Ebola virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness, with fatality rates varying from 25 per cent to 90 per cent. Thousands of people have lost their lives to the disease, since the virus was first discovered in 1976.

The statement quoted WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, as saying, “Ebola vaccines have made one of the most feared diseases on earth preventable.

“This new stockpile is an excellent example of solidarity, science and cooperation between international organisations and the private sector to save lives.”

Ghebreyesus, who underscored the importance of the vaccines to save lives from deadly viruses, said some agencies and organisations would take lead to establish the stockpile, with financial support from Gavi, the vaccine Alliance.

He listed them as the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) which included WHO, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

“The stockpile is stored in Switzerland, and vaccines are ready to be shipped to countries for emergency response.”

The statement also quoted UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, as saying, “we are proud to be part of this unprecedented effort to help bring potential Ebola outbreaks quickly under control.

“We know that when it comes to disease outbreaks, preparedness is key.

“This Ebola vaccine stockpile is a remarkable achievement – one that will allow us to deliver vaccines to those who need them the most as quickly as possible.’

“UNICEF, on behalf of ICG will manage the stockpile, and as with stockpiles of cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines, will be the decision-making body for its allocation and release.”

As Ebola outbreaks are relatively rare and unpredictable, there is no natural market for the vaccine, and doses are only secured through the establishment of stockpiles and are available in limited quantities.

According to the UN agencies, an initial 6,890 doses are available for outbreak response and quantities will be added over the coming months to take the emergency stockpile to 500,000 doses, the amount recommended by health experts.

Partners MSF and IFRC, which have worked tirelessly to stop Ebola outbreaks, also hailed the stockpile establishment.

IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain recalled the devastating impact of Ebola on communities in West and Central Africa.

Chapagain said IFRC volunteers had risked their lives to save lives through each outbreak, saying “with this stockpile, it is my hope that the impact of this terrible disease will be dramatically reduced.”

Meanwhile, Natalie Roberts, Programme Manager at MSF Foundation, said that the Ebola vaccine stockpile could increase transparency in the management of existing global stocks and the timely deployment of the vaccine where it’s most needed.

According to the UN agencies, the injectable single-dose Ebola vaccine (rVSV∆G-ZEBOV-GP, live) is manufactured by Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Corp and developed with financial support from the U.S. Government.

The European Medicines Agency licensed the Ebola vaccine in November 2019, and the vaccine is now pre-qualified by WHO, and licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as in eight African countries.

Before achieving licensure, the vaccine was administered to more than 350,000 people in Guinea and in the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under a protocol for “compassionate use”.

The vaccine, which is recommended by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation for use in Ebola outbreaks as part of a broader set of Ebola outbreak response tools, protects against the Zaire Ebolavirus species which is most commonly known to cause outbreaks. (NAN)

By Abujah Racheal

The Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has warned that the Coronavirus pandemic is spreading fast, causing mild symptoms in some victims and severe illnesses and death in others.

Ihekweazu disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

He said that many victims have continued to experience fatigue and other symptoms even after recovery.

According to him, in the last four weeks, the country has recorded a spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases.

“We have now reported over 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria and this is a stark reminder of the reality we live in now.

“A virus that has affected over 100,000 lives and led to over 1,300 deaths within 11 months in Nigeria, with millions more globally.

“We cannot be too careful. The silent face of COVID-19 with which you cannot tell whether someone has the virus or not, the only option before us is to take protective measures at all times,“ he said.

Meanwhile, Ihekweazu said that healthcare workers needed now to maintain a higher index of suspicion for COVID-19, noting that “if people were unwell, they should first rule out COVID-19 before treating malaria’’.

“We are rolling out the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits (RDTs) in five institutions in Abuja. This will increase access to testing and we then intend to roll out across the country in February.

“This will make testing a lot more available to hospitals,“ he said.

The NCDC boss pointed out that there was no state that was spared of COVID-19.

“We would have been surprised if there were, as our data suggest that we were right in saying that there is COVID circulating in every state of Nigeria and we all have to continue the hard work we have been doing,” he pointed out.

The NCDC boss said that the country had reached “a critical level“ where the hospital capacity would no longer be able to cope with more serious COVID-19 cases and health workers would be forced to make tough decisions.

“We need to protect our more vulnerable citizens, while we all have to take responsibility because this has gone beyond the NCDC, PTF or government, as all hands must be on deck.

“By organising large gatherings indoors, you are not only putting yourself and guests at risk but also the staff who have limited choice but to serve.

“By going to clubs, you are putting your parents at risk,“ he said.

Speaking on COVID-19 fatigue, he said that while Nigerians might all be tired and fed up, the virus was taking advantage of the fatigue and gaining momentum.

“By adhering to health measures, wearing masks, washing hands, observing physical distancing, staying at home, avoiding large gatherings and poorly ventilated indoor space, we can prevent its spread.

“Most important of all, the 100,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths are not just numbers, but these are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, friends whose deaths will be mourned and the pain of their loss deeply felt,“ he  pointed out. (NAN)

A team of experts commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to search for the origins of the COVID-19 is scheduled to arrive in China on Thursday after a long strained application process.

China’s health commission in Beijing on Monday initially issued a one-sentence statement saying the experts will work with Chinese scientists to investigate whether the virus can be traced back to its origins.

Later the Foreign Ministry issued a lengthier statement. “China supports scientists around the world to conduct global scientific study on the origin and transmission roots of the virus,” ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.

There had been wrangling about the experts’ trip and a week ago, the WHO announced that China had blocked them entry.

In response, Beijing had stated that preparations still had to be made.

After their arrival, the experts will have to spend two weeks in quarantine before their work on the ground can continue.

Whether they will also travel to the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, where the COVID-19 virus was first discovered over a year ago, remains to be seen.

The search for the origin of the virus is politically sensitive as China fears being fingered as the culprit for the pandemic.

“Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has been open and transparent in communicating and cooperating with the WHO on the origin tracing work, showing a responsible attitude,’’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao said .

“Earlier in February and July, when we faced the daunting task in anti-epidemic efforts, we invited the WHO experts twice to China, we also held video conferences and forums with scientists, sharing information on what we have on the origin-tracing work, and together we also formulated the China part of a global scientific corporation on origin tracing,” Zhao said.

For months Chinese authorities have been casting doubt on whether the virus originated in China at all.

They point to unconfirmed reports that there may have first been possible infections in other countries.

They also say traces of the virus on imported frozen goods are evidence that the virus could have come from abroad.

On Monday Zhao reiterated “the WHO needs to conduct similar studies in other countries and regions.”

Researchers suspect bats from southern China as the original transmitters of the disease.(dpa/NAN)

By Abujah Racheal

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nigeria surpassed 100,000 on Jan.10 after 1,024 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of infections to 100,087.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed on its verified website on Sunday.

The NCDC regrettably reported eight additional COVID-19-related deaths in the last 24 hours in the country.

The agency said the total number of deaths was now 1,358 and the case fatality rate was 1.5 per cent in the country.

“Abia-11, Adamawa-27, Akwa-Ibom-9, Anambra-19, Bauchi-17, Bayelsa-21, Benue-11, Borno-36, Cross River-12, Delta-52, Ebonyi-30, Edo-119, Ekiti-7, Enugu-21, FCT-107, Gombe-38, Imo -17 and Jigawa-55.

“Kaduna-55, Kano-70, Katsina-27, Kebbi-13, Kogi-2, Kwara -31, Lagos-256, Nassarawa-13, Niger -13, Ogun -35, Ondo-41, Osun -24, Oyo -54, Plateau -46, Rivers -67, Sokoto-20, Taraba-7, Yobe-8 and  Zamfara-5,” it stated.

The public health agency said that the country’s active cases were 18,699, while only two states, Kogi and Cross River, had no active case of the infection as at Jan. 10.

The NCDC said the number of people who had recovered from the deadly virus is now 80,030.

“There are 613 COVID-19 patients discharged across Nigeria in the last 24 hours with the total number of successfully treated cases rising to 80,030.

“Our discharges today includes 253 community recoveries in Lagos State, managed in line with guidelines,” it said.

The agency said 1,025,560 people had been tested for the virus since it was first detected in the country 11 months back, with 13,976 tests carried out in the past 24 hours.

The public health said that the 1,024 new cases were reported in 16 states and the FCT.

It added that Lagos State with 653 cases led the pack with Plateau and Benue following with 63 and 48 cases respectively, Zamfara-45, FCT-42, Rivers-27,Ondo and Adamawa-26 each.

Amongst other  states with new COVID-19 cases are Kaduna-22; Edo-18; Ogun-16; Imo-12; Kano-9, Yobe-6, Ekiti-5, Jigawa-4and Osun-2.

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

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country confirmed a coronavirus disease case on Feb. 27, 2020, since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January 202o.

The case was an Italian citizen who worked in the country and returned from Milan, Italy, to Lagos, Nigeria, on Feb. 25, 2020. He was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the NCDC. (NAN)

By Abujah Racheal

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), has announced a distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccine in the country, saying that the rate of infection in each state was the criterion used in the distribution.

It revealed the plan alongside the publication of the latest infection rates for the disease by the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) on its verified website on Saturday.

NCDC said it recorded 1, 585  new infections of the deadly Coronavirus with additional eight coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), quoted the centre as saying that the country’s COVID -19 infections increased from 97,478 on Jan.8 to 99,063 on Saturday, indicating 1,585 new infections, and with eight additional COVID-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Based on the rate on infection in the states, the distribution list of the COVID-19 vaccine indicated that Kano State will receive 3,557; Lagos, 3,131; Katsina, 2,361; Kaduna, 2,074; Bauchi, 1,900; Oyo, 1,848; Rivers, 1,766; Jigawa, 1,712; Niger, 1,558; Ogun, 1,473; Sokoto, 1,468; Benue, 1,423; Borno, 1,416; Anambra, 1,379; Zamfara, 1,336; Delta, 1,306;

Others were :  Kebbi, 1,268; Imo, 1,267; Ondo, 1,228; Akwa Ibom, 1,161.Adamawa, 1,129; Edo, 1,104; Plateau, 1,089; Enugu, 1,088; Osun, 1,032; Kogi, 1,030; Cross River, 1,023; Abia, 955; Gombe, 908; Yobe, 842; Ekiti, 830; Taraba, 830; Kwara, 815; Ebonyi, 747; Bayelsa, 589; FCT, 695; Nasarawa, 661.

The NPHCDA said that though all of the states were getting less than 4,000 vaccines from the first batch, the federal government had  advised that frontline workers, like those in the health and security sectors, be given priority, as well as the elderly.

The agency said that the vaccine, expected to be administered in January and February, would be done in compliance with WHO standards.

The government was targeting administering the vaccine on 40 per cent of Nigerians during the first batch this year, the agency said, pointing out that 30 per cent were expected to be done in 2022.

The agency also said the federal government was also sourcing for vaccines from other countries like Russia.

Meanwhile, NCDC’s data had indicated that a total of 865 patients had recovered and were discharged from various isolation centres in the country.

“Our discharges today include 419 community recoveries in Lagos State, 123 community recoveries in Gombe State and 117 community recoveries in Plateau State managed in line with guidelines,” It said.

NCDC said that the new infections it recorded on Saturday were reported from 25 states  and the Federal Capital Territory. saying that Lagos State still recorded the highest figure of the day with 573 infections.

Others were: FCT-182, Plateau-162, Gombe-81, Oyo-75, Rivers-68, Sokoto-58, Ondo-55, Ogun-42, Nasarawa-40, Akwa Ibom-36, Edo-31, Kaduna-27, Anambra-22, Delta-19, Kano-17, Osun-17, Ebonyi-16, Katsina-14, Niger-14, Bayelsa-nine, Ekiti-eight, Borno-seven Jigawa-five, Abia-four and Bauchi-three.

The NCDC also revealed that it had conducted no fewer than 1,018,061 tests since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced in the country, while  a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate national response activities across the country.

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than 42 countries already rolling out the various COVID-19 vaccines which have been cleared for use, 36 are in high income nations.

WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, made this known during COVID-19 news conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

In series of tweets posted on the UN health agency twitter account @WHO, Ghebreyesus emphasised equitable distribution of the vaccines.

He said “there’s a clear problem that low and most middle income countries are not receiving the vaccine yet.

“We can and must solve this problem together through COVAX and the ACT-Accelerator”.

COVAX – set up in April 2020 by WHO, GAVI, the vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) – are part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator to provide COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines to all, regardless of their ability to pay.

According to the WHO boss, two billion doses of “safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines” have been secured by the international equitable vaccine alliance — COVAX, which will be ready for distribution as soon as delivered.

“And we also have the right of first refusal on an additional one billion doses,” the director general said, noting that rich countries had bought most of the supply so far, while middle and high income countries were still making bilateral deals.

He said it was apparent that even within the alliance, middle and high income countries were making bilateral deals, potentially bumping up the price for everyone, leaving vaccines out of reach for the poorest and most marginalised nations.

“Vaccine nationalism hurts us all and this is self-defeating,” he added.

Vaccine nationalism is when a country manages to secure doses of vaccines for its own citizens and prioritises its own domestic markets before they are made available in other countries.

This is done through pre-purchase agreements between a government and a vaccine manufacturer.

Ghebreyesus said that equitable vaccination “saves lives, stabilises health systems and will lead to a truly global economic recovery that stimulates job creation.”

Although it is normal for viruses to mutate, the WHO chief maintained that “if we don’t reduce transmission and vaccinate equitably, we’re helping it to thrive.

“Going forward, I want to see manufacturers prioritise supply and rollout through COVAX. I urge countries and manufacturers to stop making bilateral deals at the expense of COVAX.”

According to him, it is a very dangerous time in the course of the pandemic, with some of the highest numbers of deaths recorded at any point to date.

He, however, reiterated the urgency in complying with health advisories and recommended measures.

He added that “if I said one thing to people in areas where there are high numbers of cases, it would be to do all you can to avoid mixing with people from other households, especially inside.

“It is best to meet virtually, but if you have to meet others, do it carefully and with the right precautions.”

The WHO chief emphasised that healthcare workers be vaccinated as a priority.

He said “remember, ending this pandemic is one of humanities great races, and whether we like it or not, we will win or lose this race together.

“No country is exceptional and should cut the queue and vaccinate all their population, while some remain with no supply.

“Science has delivered, let’s not waste the opportunity to protect lives of those most at risk and ensure all economies have a fair shot at recovery,” he said.

In addition, he said, it was a very dangerous time in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic “and I do not want to see people become complacent as vaccines are starting to rollout.

“Over the past few days, we’ve seen some of the highest numbers of deaths recorded at any point in the pandemic.

“We’ve hit our target; 100 countries have now completed this critical process and the governments and health systems are on standby for global vaccine rollout.

“We are ready. COVAX is ready. Countries are ready,’’ he said. (NAN)