Health

African Football Federations Shortlist Clubs to Partake in Covid-19 Fund Raising Competition by FIFA
Africa, Covid-19, News, Sports

African Football Federations Shortlist Clubs to Partake in Covid-19 Fund Raising Competition by FIFA

World football governing body - FIFA plans to raise funds to combat corona virus through a competition among continental Confederations when clubs are cleared to restart play with fans in stadiums. Each federation is expected to shortlist 16 teams for the competition. The clubs selected to represent the African continent are as follows: Enyimba Kaizer Chiefs Al Ahly Esperance TP Mazembe Hearts of oak Orlando Pirates Zamalek KCC Zesco United El Merika Sudan Gor Mahia Enugu Rangers AS Vita Raja Casablanca Wydad CASABLANCA The tournament will be played for a month concurrently in each continent over two legs. The funds raised will be managed by FIFA who would reward participating clubs at the Hall of Heroes in Zurich, Switzerland. Reports say, participating clubs we...
Kenya Relaxes Burial Guidelines Amid Increased Cases of Covid-19
Covid-19, Kenya, News

Kenya Relaxes Burial Guidelines Amid Increased Cases of Covid-19

  The Kenyan ministry of health has relaxed guidelines relating to the burial of COVID-19 victims. Kenya had established a guideline which required victims of corona virus to be buried not more than 48 hours after death. Families of victims had been forced to hurriedly bury their relatives to evade breaking the rule. Some had to put their loved ones to the grave at night. The director general of ministry of health, Patrick Amoth has disclosed that the relaxation is due to findings that people stand a low risk of contracting coronavirus through dead bodies if well handled. “If you look at the transmission of Covid-19 against other infections, there is very little likelihood that one stands a chance of getting infected from a body, if treated well,” he said. Reports say a...
Congo Witnesses New Ebola Outbreak – 17 Infected, 11 dead
Congo, News

Congo Witnesses New Ebola Outbreak – 17 Infected, 11 dead

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a new outbreak of Ebola virus in some parts of Equateur. Medical authorities on Monday said up to 17 people have been infected of the virus in the western province while a further 11 have died. Health authorities in Congo had last week reported 12 infections at a time when the country is equally battling a measles epidemic that has claimed the lives of about 6,000 people coupled with over 4,800 coronavirus cases with 112 deaths. The Central African country whose health system does not rank among the best in the African continent faces a tough battle against 3 deadly diseases. The National Institute of Biomedical Research has reported an increased spread of the virus since a cluster of infections were confirmed in the city of Mbandaka o...
Most-At-Need Sudanese to Get Direct Cash Payments from Government
Covid-19, Economy, News, Sudan

Most-At-Need Sudanese to Get Direct Cash Payments from Government

Citizens of Sudan are set to receive direct cash transfers  from next week as part of experimental programme as the country attempts to ease off expensive subsidies. Sudan’s capital Khartoum has been striving to revive its faltering economy. This latest attempt is aimed at improving the lot of the city and the country at large. Sudan has faced an inflation rate of almost 100% and the currency facing a free fall. The government has had to print money to subsidise basic necessities like bread, fuel and electricity. The country has a foreign debts rate of about $62 billion. Last week, its government started talks that could usher international finance support by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through a non-funded programme. Under first phase of the new pilot cash payment progr...
Congo Loses Veteran Politician Pierre Lumbi to Covid-19
Congo, Covid-19, News

Congo Loses Veteran Politician Pierre Lumbi to Covid-19

Congo mourns the passing of veteran politician Pierre Lumbi who died as a result of corona virus. Lumbi who died on Sunday 14 June, 2020 was an advisor of former President Joseph Kabila and afterwards a figurehead in the opposition. He comes the highest placed victim of the novel coronavirus in Congo. He was equally a popular member of civil society in the 1990s, Lumbi held several ministerial portfolios before advising Kabila on security. Lumbi was elected as a Senator for South Kivu province in 2016 and worked as campaign manager for Martin Fayulu in his bid to win the 2018 election. Fayulu tweeted, “Very saddened by the death of Senator P. Lumbi.” He died at the Centre Medical in the capital city of Kinshasa, due to complications relating to coronavirus said his family. T...
South Africa: Student Union Threatens to Close Schools Across SA Over Covid-19 Fears
Covid-19, Education, News, South Africa, Youths

South Africa: Student Union Threatens to Close Schools Across SA Over Covid-19 Fears

The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) have said the body will be “shutting down all schools over SA” from Monday. The union said in a statement, “We want to put it on record that we are not giving anyone an option but we are taking a radical approach, we will save the lives of innocent scholars by hook or crook.” Cosas said it would mobilise at a school in Cape Town where it believed a Covid-19 case had been reported, “from there we will move to any other school that is operating”.   This comes after recent reopening of schools in South Africa. Cosas is believed to be of the view that school reopening amid corona virus threat is undue.   Source: TimesLive
Update: COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Nigeria Rise to 13,464
Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Update: COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Nigeria Rise to 13,464

Latest update published by the Nigerian centre for Disease for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that Nigeria has recorded fresh 663 cases of coronavirus. It brings the total number of cases in Nigeria to 13,464 with 365 deaths while 4206 have been discharged. It read, “663 new cases of #COVID19; Lagos-170, Ogun-108, Bauchi-69, Ebonyi-49, Edo-33, Rivers-30, FCT-26, Jigawa-26, Delta-20, Anambra-17, Gombe-16, Kano-16, Imo-15, Abia-14, Borno-11, Oyo-11, Plateau-8, Kebbi-6, Kaduna-6, Ondo-4, Niger-2, Katsina-2, Osun-1, Ekiti-1, Kwara-1 and 1 in Nasarawa-1. “13464 cases of ‪#COVID19Nigeria. Discharged: 4206, deaths: 365.”
Corona Virus: Schools Resume in South Africa
Africa, Covid-19, Education, News, Safety, South Africa

Corona Virus: Schools Resume in South Africa

School children in South Africa resumed classroom activities on Monday, 8th June 2020, as government starts to ease restrictions imposed on the country to curb the spread of corona virus. Resumption of schools was delayed in the country after teachers’ union advised members to ignore the order by the government to resume last week, stating that schools lacked adequate health measures to keep both teachers and pupils safe. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga had earlier stated on Sunday that government concluded efforts to equip schools in the past week and that 95% of primary and secondary schools in the country are now able to restart. “The golden rule is there will be no school that will resume if not ready to do so,” Motshekga said. She also stated that government will...
Increased Number of COVID-19 Cases in Ghana Stop Operators from Reopening
Covid-19, Economy, Ghana, News

Increased Number of COVID-19 Cases in Ghana Stop Operators from Reopening

Bar and pub operators in Ghana have continued to make appeals to the government to ease some restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them restart operations, the Ghana News Agency reports. West African country, Ghana has continued to enforce strict measures to curb the growing number of corona virus cases. Ghana had a surge in COVID-19 cases in May 2020 but there has been a gradual ease of restrictions to enable some sectors of the economy to function. This may have informed the decision by pub operators to make the appeal to the government. The operators maintained that the lock down of their businesses due to the pandemic was affecting them economically. They expressed their readiness to enforce the required health protocols if allowed to resume operations. President...
Has Tanzania Triumphed Over Covid-19?
Africa, Covid-19, Tanzania

Has Tanzania Triumphed Over Covid-19?

Tanzania has conquered the scourge of coronavirus. This was declared by President John Mogufuli in a church service in the capital, Dodoma on Sunday. President Mogafuli attributed the victory to prayers by citizens. According to him, the disease has been defeated thanks to God. This comes on the heels of concerns by the World Health Organisation (WHO) over the mode of tackling the prevalence of the virus by the government. Tanzania had 509 cases and 21 deaths as at 29 April when the last official figures were published. Sources have expressed doubt over the claim of being coronavirus free by the President. Mr. Magufuli had conceded last week that the nation was treating four patients in Dar es Salaam. United states embassy had last week raised an alarm over the “extremely high”...