Tag: Health - Page 28 - African News Today

School Reopening in Nigeria: Federal Government Submits School Proposal to National Assembly

24Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, Legislature, News, Nigeria

School Reopening in Nigeria: Federal Government Submits School Proposal to National Assembly

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education has forwarded a detailed proposal to the National Assembly on its plan for resumption of schools across Nigeria. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba when he met with the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education. Nwajiuba appeared before the upper legislative chamber to enlightened them on modalities put into place by the education ministry for the reopening of schools which had been closed since the coronavirus induced national lockdown. He declined giving details of the proposal, citing misconception by members of the public. He said the proposal might be taken as guidelines for school reopening. He said, “Children are asymptomatic carriers. Nobody can prove whether they...

South African to Kickoff Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine on Wednesday

23Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, South Africa

South African to Kickoff Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine on Wednesday

Clinical trials of a United Kingdom (UK) manufactured COVID-19 vaccine is set to take place in South Africa on Wednesday as the country tackles the spread of the dreaded disease. SABC News reports that the University of Oxford manufactured vaccine would be tried among about 2,000 people aged 18-35 in South Africa. Half of the participants would be given the drug while the rest will be given a placebo. It will commence with a set of HIV negative individuals who will be given two doses of the vaccine over four weeks duration. Personnel from the Medical Research Council and Wits University would on Wednesday, administer the drug on a set 50 people. South African has been taking planned actions to curtail the spread of COVID-19. It pioneered local capacity for laboratory testing in...

South Africa Closing in on 100,000 COVID-19 Cases

21Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, South Africa

South Africa Closing in on 100,000 COVID-19 Cases

South Africa is fast closing in on 100,000 confirmed cases of novel corona virus after the nation’s Minister of Health announced a spike to 92,681 on Saturday. The Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, reported 4,966 addition to existing cases just in the last 24 hours, marking the highest number of cases recorded in a single day since the index case in March. According to Mkhize, 46 casualties were recorded as the virus continues to take its toll, amounting to 1,877 deaths- 11 from Eastern Cape, three from KwaZulu-Natal and a further 32 from Western Cape. Western Cape Province appears to be the most hit by the virus with 50,173 patients and 1,392 victims recorded, while Gauteng follows with 18,978 cases and 114 deaths, the Eastern Cape with 14,721 cases and 268 deaths, and KwaZulu-Natal ...

Zimbabwe Drags Health Minister to Court over COVID-19 Medical Supplies Corruption Allegation

20Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Covid-19, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Drags Health Minister to Court over COVID-19 Medical Supplies Corruption Allegation

The health minster of Zimbabwe has been charged to court on grounds of criminal abuse of power as a government officer, alleged to have awarded a COVID-19 medical supplies contract running into millions of dollars to an obscure company at bloated prices. The company had sold $28 face masks to government at bulging prices. Anti-craft agency on Friday arrested the health minister- Obadiah Moyo after a public outcry and the contract was annulled. President Mnangagwa’s son issued a statement debunking any involvement with the said firm after pictures of the Zimbabwean representative of the firm enjoying company of the president, his wife and sons at ceremonies surfaced in the media. Delish Nguwaya, the representative is charged with criminal dealings alongside some bigwigs of the nati...

Egypt Records More than 50,000 Confirmed Cases of Corona Virus Infection

19Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Egypt, News

Egypt Records More than 50,000 Confirmed Cases of Corona Virus Infection

Health authorities in Egypt announced 1,218 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday 18 June, 2020. This brings the total number of corona virus cases in Egypt to over 50,000, two weeks before her planned easing of lockdown measure. Egypt imposed lockdown in March to mitigate the transmission of the virus, resulting in school closure, restaurants and bulk of international airlifting. The Arab nation’s booming tourism industry was negatively impacted by the disease. Government credits tourism for 5% of its economic revenue though analysts are of the view it might be as high as 15% of jobs, indirect investment related to the industry inclusive. Egypt plans to restart scheduled international flights from July 1 which will enable opening its borders to tourists for the forthcoming summer sea...

Covid-19: Lockdown in Khartoum, Sudan Extended Until June 29

18Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Sudan

Covid-19: Lockdown in Khartoum, Sudan Extended Until June 29

The security and Defence Council of the Republic of Sudan has prolonged the existing lock down in the state of Khartoum to June 29 in a conscious effort to stem the tide of corona virus spread. The nation’s capital- Khartoum, boasts of the largest population in the African country. The council announced the continuation of 3 p.m to 7 a.m curfew as part of recommendations of the Supreme Committee for Health Emergencies. Effective from Sunday, Sudan will commence bringing back of stranded expatriates through flights and border crossings to ensure safety. The council added that returnees without medical certificates to prove being corona virus free would be quarantined until being cleared by undergoing test. Sudan had last week, extended the closure of airports to international...

Covid-19, Ebola, Measles in Congo… How prepared is Congo?

17Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Congo, Ebola, News

Covid-19, Ebola, Measles in Congo… How prepared is Congo?

Africa against Triple Threat!!! As the world battles the deadly corona virus which has stretched the health facility of even the best health care systems in the world, the Democratic Republic of Congo seems even more embattled. The Central African country faces a fight against triple health threats- COVID-19, Ebola virus and Measles. Each of these diseases prove fatal when prevalent in a society, how much more when a single country has to contain the three simultaneously. Congo has currently recorded 4,974 cases of coronavirus with 112 deaths as at 16 June, 2020. Africa as continent has a total of 257, 843 cases and 6,926 deaths. It comes at a time when the country is equally battling a measles epidemic that has claimed the lives of about 6,000 people according to health reports....

Kenya Relaxes Burial Guidelines Amid Increased Cases of Covid-19

15Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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

15Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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...

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

14Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

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