\u2022NCDC clears the air on Malaria and Coronavirus<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Nine LGs account for 51% of national infections<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Five states participating in WHO- coordinated solidarity\ndrug trial<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Sadiya Farouq: FG not spending N679m daily on school\nfeeding<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Ebonyi lifts ban on religious gathering<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Medical researchers protest alleged sidelining by\ngovernment<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022NNPC donates 70-bed hospital to FCT<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022Canadian High Commission\ndelaying evacuation of Nigerians <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The federal government yesterday pleaded with COVID-19\nsurvivors to stop giving details of the drugs used for their treatment to\ndiscourage self-medication. The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19,\nMr. Boss Mustapha, made the plea at a press briefing in Abuja, following recent\nvideo testimonies of some high profile survivors, talking about the drugs\nadministered on them at the treatment centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the same day, 288 fresh COVID-19 cases were confirmed\nnationwide, taking the tally to 5445, with 171 deaths and 1320 discharged. Also,\nit was disclosed that nine local governments alone accounted for 51 per cent of\nnational infections of the Coronavirus, and that five states were participating\nin WHO- coordinated solidarity drug trial, as fresh strategy is being worked\nout to address community transmission in states like Lagos and Kano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the\nFederation, expressed concern that some of the testimonies disclosing the\nprescription for treatment of the virus could encourage patients to indulge in\nself-medication instead of seeking help from health authorities. He urged all\nNigerians that have symptoms of COVID-19 to test for the virus and if positive,\ngo into the isolation centres for care by experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe PTF congratulates and appreciates the testimonies of\nNigerians who have recovered from COVID-19, which has given us more insights\nand further strengthens the need to adhere strictly to guidelines issued.\nHowever, an emerging issue from all these testimonies is the issue of\nprescription for treatments. We should always remember that the symptoms of\nCOVID-19 mimic some illnesses we already know but treating the symptoms is not\nthe same as treating the virus. For this reason, we strongly discourage\nself-medication,\u201d Mustapha said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also said that five states in Nigeria were currently\nparticipating in the on-going World Health Organization (WHO)-coordinated\nsolidarity trial to find a cure for the pandemic, saying that at the end of\nthis trial, relevant health authorities would make statements on acceptable\ndrugs for treating COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mustapha also raised the alarm that 51 per cent of the\ncountry\u2019s COVID-19 cases are concentrated in nine local government areas across\nthe country. However, he did not name them. He said the affected nine local\ngovernment areas were all densely populated, indicating that the crowded\ncommunities were at the risk of spreading the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet me say that our preliminary analysis has narrowed down\nthe over 51 per cent of the total number of infected persons to nine Local\nGovernment Areas across the country and all of them are densely populated. This\nindicates that a critical element of our taming this pandemic is to reduce\nopportunities for large gathering, sustaining the ban on inter-state movement,\nthe nationwide curfew and complying with the measures prescribed- wash your\nhands as frequently as necessary; use hand sanitisers; maintain social\ndistancing, use a face mask or covering in public places,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mustapha also stated the opposition of the federal\ngovernment to reports that some state governors were lifting restrictions on\nlarge congregation of people. He warned that while President Muhammadu Buhari\nhad encouraged state governments to adapt national guidelines that are suitable\nto their state, such adaptation should be informed by empirical evidence of\nprogress made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The PTF chairman warned the governors that lifting\nrestrictions on large congregation of people had consequences and was an\nopportunity for more seeding of the virus thereby negating gains already made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ehanire: Fresh Strategy to Address Community Transmission\nComing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said the federal\ngovernment was developing a new strategy that would help in addressing\ncommunity transmission of COVID-19, especially in high density areas like Lagos\nand Kano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister, who spoke yesterday at the media briefing by\nthe Presidential Taskforce on Control of covid19 in Abuja, said when\nimplemented, the new strategy could go a long way in addressing many looming\nchallenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ehanire said: \u201cA strategy document of National Primary\nHealthcare Development Agency is being developed and repurposed for application\nin Kano; but also in similar high density, high burden metropoles like Lagos to\nrespond more specifically to the challenges of COVID-19 tracing, tracking,\ntesting, isolation and treatment in congested communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the situation in Kano State had largely stabilised,\n\u201cthanks to the good relationship between the visiting federal task team and\nKano State Task force on COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ehanire said that the high number of new cases recorded in\nKano state was an indication that all laboratories in Kano were now functioning\nand clearing backlog of samples, with over 350 new tests done daily. Ehanire,\nhowever, regretted that the yet to be explained deaths that occurred in Kano\nand a few other states in the northern part of the country may be linked to low\nhospital attendance due to Covid19 scare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister said another team from the Federal Ministry of\nHealth had been assembled to proceed to Sokoto and Borno states on fact finding\nmission and to engage with state authorities to determine their material and\ntechnical needs. He also said that part of the mission in Kano was to assist\nstate pathologists and scientists unravel the mysteries around unexplained\ndeaths in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the minister, the tools for forensic\ninvestigation have been jointly developed for a uniform approach and balanced\nresults. Also, Ehanire said the ministry was able to persuade Mrs Susan Idoko-Okpe,\na woman who earlier refused to take COVID-19 test, to allow her blood sample to\nbe taken to the NCDC laboratory for testing yesterday. He said the result was\nbeing awaited and that any time from now the result would be given to her in\nperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ebonyi Lifts Ban on Religious Gathering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi has lifted the ban on\nreligious centres in the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, the governor had banned gathering at religious\ncentres to curb the spread of COVID-19. But in a statement yesterday, the\nCommissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji, said the ban had been lifted with\nimmediate effect. He said the leadership of the Christian Association of\nNigeria (CAN) in the state had appealed for the opening of churches, while he\nurged the religious centres not to permit more than 500 worshippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReligious centres in the state are to re-open for worship\nonce a week, effective from 15th May, 2020 under attendant conditions,\u201d the\ncommissioner said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat Seventh Day Adventist and Muslim faithful are to\nobserve their service on Saturdays and Fridays respectively from 9 am \u2013 11 am. No\nReligious Centre shall permit more than 500 people and worshipers shall observe\na minimum of two meters social distancing from one another. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWearing of face masks, washing of hands with running water\nand use of hand sanitisers must be strictly observed in all religious centres.\nNo religious service is allowed to hold any other day, other than the days\nspecified herein and which must be in strict observance of all COVID-19 Laws\nand regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChristian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has a duty to close\ndown any religious gathering and arrest the principal of the worship centre\nthat violates this order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the fourth state to lift the ban on religious\ngatherings in 48 hours. Borno, Gombe and Adamawa took a similar step earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Businesses Confront Disruptions, FG Unveils\nPalliatives for MSMEs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The federal government has issued a set of palliatives to\nhelp Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) wade through the current\neconomic fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Agency for Food and\nDrug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) conducted a virtual launch of\npalliatives for MSMEs in Abuja yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the palliatives\nreflected the Buhari administration\u2019s determination to support MSMEs and the\npriority the federal government placed on small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The palliatives are: E-Registration of MSMEs\/products at 80%\ndiscounted rate over a period of six months; Zero tariffs for the first 200\nmicro and small businesses to register on the E-platform and waiver on\nadministrative charges for overdue late renewal of expired licenses of\nmicro\/small businesses products for a period of 90 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the VP, as businesses across the world confront\nthe disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the federal government\nwould continue to adopt and implement practical measures to ensure that the\nprojected growth in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector is\nnot seriously affected by the development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canadian High Commission Delaying Evacuation of Nigerians<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Canada High Commission has allegedly caused a delay in\nthe evacuation of Nigerians from the North American country by deferring Air\nPeace flight right and positioning Ethiopia Airlines to operate the airlift,\neven at a higher fare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The federal government last week designated the Nigerian\ncarrier, Air Peace to conduct evacuation flight to bring Nigerians who are\nstranded in Canada, with a flight plan to airlift evacuees from Toronto and\nCagliari back to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But informed sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs\ndisclosed that the Canada High Commission opened talks with Ethiopia Airlines,\nwhich has been airlifting Canadian citizens from different parts of Africa to\nCanada to deny a Nigerian carrier the opportunity to airlift its own citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation\nand Foreign Affairs has waded into the matter, insisting that the Nigerian\ncarrier has to operate the flight in tandem with its new position that all\nevacuation flights must be conducted by Nigerian carriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flight was scheduled to airlift some Canadian citizens\nin Nigeria to Canada and bring back Nigerians from that country. A document\nsourced from the Canada High Commission directed that passengers should pay\n$2,500 to Ethiopian Airlines for the flight; while Air Peace charged $1,134 and\n319 passengers had already paid to the Nigerian airline, which has concluded\nplans to operate full flight to the North American country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The directive from the Canada High Commission asked the\nwould-be evacuees to pay for Flight ET3900 from Lagos to Addis-Ababa that would\ndepart from Lagos by 1:00 pm Nigerian time on May 18, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The delay in allowing Air Peace, an indigenous airline to\nconduct the evacuation flight has upset officials in the Ministry of Foreign\nAffairs and other Nigerians who have been monitoring the proceedings since last\nweek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the Nigerians who have booked and paid Air Peace for\nthe flight were already complaining about the insistence of the Canada High\nCommission to choose a foreign airline when a Nigerian carrier could carry out\nthe evacuation exercise successfully, as it had done in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shocked at the decision of Canada High Commission, an\nofficial of the Nigerian carrier said that Air Peace had successfully flown to 40\ncountries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, noting that\nit was the airline that evacuated Israeli citizens from Nigeria late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have done many international flights, including landing\nin Canada. We have made 19 flights to the United States of America since 2014.\nWe have flown to Tel-Aviv several times and in March we evacuated over 200\nIsraelis from Nigeria back during this COVID-19 lockdown. We have scheduled\nflight operations to United Arab Emirates. We have also flown to UK, Ireland,\nChina, Turkey, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland and other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification\nand we are member of IATA. We also evacuated Nigerians from South Africa during\nthe Xenophobia attack of Africans there. We are grateful to the Federal\nGovernment and the Ministry of Aviation for all the support they are giving Air\nPeace and other ingenious carriers,\u201d the Air Peace official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reacting to the incident, former Director General of the\nNigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka described the\naction of the Canada High Commission as political and urged the Federal\nGovernment to stand firmly on its position that a Nigerian carrier should\nconduct the airlift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am a nationalist to the core. Anything Nigerian is good\nenough as long as it is qualified to carry out the operation and Air Peace has\ninternational operation experience. I insist that the Nigerian government\nshould put its foot down on this. Nigerian carriers should not be stopped from\nconducting international operations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FG Sidelining Us, Allege Medical Researchers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The leadership of medical researchers in the country has\nalleged that its members were being blatantly ignored in the federal\ngovernment\u2019s effort to find a home-grown solution to the Coronavirus pandemic\nin Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The national body of researchers, in a letter to the\ngovernment, said that, as it currently stands, there was a \u2018disconnect\u2019 between\nthe Presidential Task Force (PTF), which it described as the political managers\nof the pandemic and the body of Nigerian researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a letter signed by the Secretary General of the Academic\nStaff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, in\nAbuja, the association stressed that despite its capacity, the government was\nlooking for answers outside the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It called on the federal government, as well as the state\ngovernments to recognise the relevance of the Nigerian Institute for Medical\nResearch (NIMR), among others, to the nation\u2019s immediate need for testing,\ncertification of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), treatment and research on\nCoronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the engine room and indeed the brain box of Nigeria\u2019s\nmedical research, NIMR has both the manpower and facility to coordinate all\nCoronavirus-related cure and therapeutic research, geared towards acceptable\nmedical processes and procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is also in line with global practices as medical and\nacademic research institutes have been at the forefront in combating COVID-19\nglobally. For Nigeria to systematically approach the cure for COVID-19, it is\ngermane to harness all leading research for a possible cure of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis has become imminent, given the non-engagement and the\nseeming sidelining of NIMR despite its capacity to provide adequate mitigation\nprogrammes in the fight against Coronavirus,\u201d the organisation said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ASURI insisted that as a research and scientific-driven\norganisation, if the Nigerian government is to make any strategic and tangible\ncontribution in the mitigation, prevention and treatment of Coronavirus, there\nwas urgent need to advance home-grown research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It said that the body was of the firm belief that as the\nmandate research agency for medical solutions, NIMR had the requisite capacity\nand research acumen to collaborate with the National Centre for Disease Control\n(NCDC), leading in the research component on the fight against COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is our view that NIMR, as a research-based institute,\nhas the full capacity to carry out expanded tests for Coronavirus, which both\nfederal and state governments will tap into to ensure adequate mitigation and\ntreatment for Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe make bold to state that NIMR is capable of conducting\nmore than 1000 Covid-19 tests and provision of test kits. \u201cThe institute is\nalso poised to coordinate an amalgam of indigenous Nigerian researchers in the\nmedical, pharmaceutical and herbal-pharmacology health field to spearhead a\nreliable and dependable treatment and therapy for coronavirus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n NNPC Donates 70-Bed Hospital to FCT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Federal Capital Territory\u2019s fight against the\ncoronavirus crisis has received a boost in form of the 70 bed Nigeria National\nPetroleum Corporation (NNPC) hospital at Utako District of the City, currently\nunder renovation and to be put to use when completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was made known yesterday when the FCT Minister, Malam\nMuhammad Musa Bello led a delegation from the FCTA on a courtesy visit to the\nGroup Managing Director of the NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari at the Corporation\u2019s\nheadquarters in Abuja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bello thanked the NNPC and the entire oil and gas industry\nfor their support to the FCT in the fight against the pandemic. Mele Kyari who\nled the FCT delegation on a tour of the 70 bed hospital, which includes 10\nIntensive Care Units, commended the FCT Administration for its efforts in\nhandling the COVID-19 pandemic in the territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NCDC Clears the Air on Malaria and Coronavirus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Director-General of the NCDC, Chikwe Iheakweazu,\nyesterday spoke on the differences between the ravaging viral disease, COVID-19\nand Malaria. This comes after the chairman of DAAR communications, Raymond\nDokpesi who was discharged from an Isolation center in Abuja on Thursday, asked\nwhat the differences were because according to him, all the drugs given to him\nat the Isolation center were anti-malaria drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dokpesi said: \u201dI still have doubts in my mind. I still want\nto be properly educated. What is the difference between COVID-19 which is a\nvirus and Malaria which is caused by mosquitos because every medication we were\ngiven was Malaria medication. Some people, before they were told they were\nCOVID-19 positive, they were tested in reputable laboratories and hospitals in\nAbuja and what they found was that they had a lot of malaria parasites in their\nbloodstream. So when did malaria become synonymous to COVID-19?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A reporter at the daily briefing of the Presidential\nTaskforce on COVID-19, threw this question to the NCDC boss and he said: \u201dI\nthink we all know COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a virus, Malaria\nis caused by a parasite. They are completely different diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHowever, many diseases present exactly the same way in the\nbeginning, Yellow fever presents the same way with fever at the beginning,\nLassa the same way, malaria the same way. So, the initial presentation of a\nfebrille illness is similar across diseases. There is no specific treatment for\nCOVID-19 so what clinicians do is to manage your symtoms so that your body\nrecovers as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can have Malaria and COVID-19. That you have COVID-19\ndoesn\u2019t prevent you from having Malaria and if you are in a hospital for one\nmonth, you could definitely be co-infected by both of them. So, there are many\nreasons why people receive similar treatments but they are two completely\ndifferent diseases with different pathogenesis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadiya Umar Farouq: FG Not Spending N679m Daily on School\nFeeding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The federal government has refuted claims suggesting that it\nwas spending N679 million daily on the national school feeding programme. The\nMinister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,\nSadiya Umar Farouq made the denial while speaking yesterday at the Presidential\nTaskforce on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minister insisted that programme, which is funded by the\nfederal government, was being implemented by the state governments and\nfacilitated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. She said the\nmodified programme was targeted at heads of the households, the guardians and\nthe caregivers, of the children in primary school one to three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Farouq said government was not spending N679 million per day\nas alluded to by the report. She put the take-home ration which each household\nwas to receive at N4,200 and planned as a monthly COVID-19 intervention for 3,\n131,971 households in the participating states of the Federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen the federal government ordered the closure of schools\nacross the country in order to help flatten the curve on the COVID-19, it\ninterrupted the school feeding programme, which is one of our cardinal projects\nas a government and which preceded the COVID-19 outbreak, \u201cshe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added that because the programme was already ongoing\nfood vendors had already been contacted and mobilised for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re also mindful of the fact that most vendors having\nmobilised had made purchases preparatory to the project as official. It was not\njust possible to ask them for a refund. This had been done before the schools\ncalendar was disrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this the, dimension demanding a refund will be\ncumbersome and unrealistic. So the ministry went into consultation with Nigeria\nGovernors\u2019 Forum in line with the directive of Mr. President, who talked about\nmodalities on how to continue with the programme despite that that the schools\nare closed and especially because of the expatiating challenges posed by this\nCOVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was how we arrived at the modified school feeding\nprogramme of taking food rations into the households of these children,\u201d Farouq\nsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On how government got its data on children at home, she\nsaid: \u201cWhen children are enrolled in schools, the registration process has a\ndetailed register which contains the address of parents and guardians of every\npeople and is kept with the school as well as the class teachers. We also\nobtained those from SUBEB and other sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlso in the community where these are children live, every\nchild\u2019s home can be easily identified by members of that community and\nmanagement of these schools. So, to ensure full transparency so that the\nprogramme is not compromised, we are submitting a full list of all the vendors\nto the EFFC and let me also state here that these vendors have been in the\nsystem since 2016. So we are using existing structure is not a whole new\nprogram that were enrolling now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have also invited other agencies of government including\nthe DSS, EFFC, ICPC code of conduct and a host of NGOs and CSOs to help us\nmonitor. I\u2019m sure you agree with me yesterday, you must have noticed a large\nnumber of people participating in the process or in the flag off because we engage\nas many stakeholders as possible to be part of that being very mindful of the\nsocial distance guideline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m going into some light in order to disapprove some misinformation and misunderstanding around modified programme and to ask Nigerians to support this for active intervention designed to keep our children fed during this pandemic, So that objective of this National home work school feeding programme is not compromised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally published in Thisday<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Olawale Ajimotokan, Emmanuel Addeh and Chinedu Eze \u2022288 new cases take tally to 5445 with 171 deaths \u2022NCDC clears the air on Malaria and Coronavirus \u2022Nine LGs account for 51% of national…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1514,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[275],"class_list":["post-1513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-covid-19"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/towncryyers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Raymond-Dokpesi-recovers-from-coronavirus-Photo-Credit-AIT-NEWS.png?fit=1024%2C591&ssl=1\")