As of Monday this week, Emirates has updated that it will NOT be resuming flights to Nigeria or to South Africa. For Nigeria, flights are suspended ‘until further notice’ and for South Africa, they are suspended until July 6th. 
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The information below was published in advance of the latest update and is now out of date. 
On the weekend, Dubai authorities confirmed that entry requirements from Nigeria, South Africa, and India will be relaxed. As a result, Emirates has announced that it is resuming flights to these three countries on June 23rd.
Strong links
Citizens from all three nations have prominent connections in the United Arab Emirates. Between January and June 2019, nearly one million people visited the country from India. Meanwhile, Dubai saw a 28% increase in visitors from Nigeria in the same year.
There is a significant population of nationals from these countries in the UAE. Notably, around 3.4 million Indians live here, along with up to 50,000 Nigerians and over 50,000 South Africans.
Despite these strong links, travel had been heavily restricted amid the conditions of the pandemic. However, with recent improvements in the virus climate, officials are relaxing measures for entry.
The conditions
From this Wednesday, passengers from Nigeria can fly into Dubai following a PCR test taken at labs approved by Nigerian authorities 48 hours before departure. They also have to take another PCR test on arrival in Dubai.
Those flying in from South Africa also have to follow the same testing requirements and will have to be fully vaccinated by either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V, Oxford-AstraZeneca, or Sinopharm vaccines.
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Along with following vaccination requirements, travelers from India must have a valid residence visa and will have to also undergo “institutional quarantine” until they receive their PCR on arrival result. However, there is an exception for UAE nationals.
Emirates has expressed that it is keen to facilitate flights from the three nations. It is also looking forward to assisting different passenger segments.  
“We will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with these protocols from 23rd June,” Emirates shared in a statement, as reported by Gulf Today.
“We thank the Supreme Committee for their continuous efforts in monitoring the development of the situation and announcing the appropriate guidelines and protocols to protect the community and safeguard travel sector.”
Ever-changing requirements
Despite the progress in two key African markets, the news isn’t so optimistic across the continent. The UAE has suspended the entry of passengers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Namibia. This suspension took effect today.
Nonetheless, thousands of travelers will welcome the update by Dubai and Emirates from the weekend. Along with the abundance of residents and visitors that will be looking to fly with the airline to the destination, Dubai is also a crucial connecting spot across the continents. Therefore, smoother travel will undoubtedly be enabled with this move.
Emirates will also be glad that it is ramping up more services. The carrier is already operating 90% of its pre-pandemic network, so it has great momentum going this summer.
Amid the prospects this year, Dubai International’s Terminal 1’s Concourse D will reopen this Thursday. The facilities were shut down at the end of March last year amid the global health crisis. Now, Dubai Airports’ management feels that there will be a swarm of visitors in the coming period.
Simple Flying reached out to Emirates for further comment on the resuming flights. We will update the article with any additional announcements from the airline.

The NCDC made this known via its verified website on Wednesday morning.
It noted that 11 states had zero cases reported, which were; Plateau, Nasarawa, Cross River, Imo, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti States.
According to NCDC, the 17 new cases were registered in Lagos – 13; Gombe – 1and Rivers – 3.
The NCDC noted that the country had so far tested 2,231,409 persons since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 was announced in Feb. 27, 2020.
The agency said the total number of infections in the country was 167,095 while 163,483 recoveries were recorded as of June 15.
The public health agency said no additional new deaths were registered in the country in the last 24 hours.
The NCDC said a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, had continued to coordinate the national response activities.
Meanwhile, it added that the country’s active cases stood at 1,495, as of June 15.

TANGKAK: The government will have to study various factors including the actual Covid-19 situation in the country and intervention methods being implemented before deciding whether to move into phase two of the National Recovery Plan, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The prime minister said although the government had set certain targets like dates and periods, number of cases, vaccination milestones, and usage of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, the actual situation frequently changes.
"It (National Recovery Plan) has what we call threshold values … but we have to understand that the situation changes and that is why we may make slight adjustments.
"This will be decided at the National Security Council (MKN) meeting which I chair to assess the situation," he told reporters after visiting the vaccination centre at Dewan Muafakat Johor Bukit Gambir in Bukit Gambir here today.
Muhyiddin said the government always monitors the latest developments through the Health Ministry (MOH) and all available systems to determine the intervention methods that can be implemented.
"For example, the data is still a bit high and we want to bring it below 4,000 cases. Today there are 4,743 cases, so not far off the target. We need to see the intervention by MOH and all existing systems (to bring situation under control).
"But that alone is not enough; the whole community including factories need to play their part by adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOP)" he added.
Muhyiddin, who is Gambir state assemblyman, also stressed the importance of ramping up the vaccination process to get a better control of the situation and reduce the number of positive cases faster.
"We have a few more days to go (June 28). So, if the rate (of infection) can drop further it means we are on schedule and will move to phase two.
"So, because of this we won't make an announcement now. Normally, only two or three days before that will we decide whether to extend or move on (to the next phase)," he said,
Muhyiddin said this when asked whether the government would move to phase two of the Movement Control Order 3.0 as phase one is scheduled to end on June 28.
Earlier, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the country could move into phase two of the National Recovery Plan if the daily average number of Covid-19 cases drops below 4,000 for seven consecutive days.
He said ICU bed utilisation should also be below 75 per cent and 10 per cent of the population should be vaccinated for this phase to happen.-- BERNAMA

With fewer cases and the reopening of states, the potential final stage of the US campaign to eradicate COVID-19 is becoming a difficult one, with worrying variants gaining a greater foothold, while lottery tickets and other prizes have failed to convince some Americans are vaccinated.
"The last half, the last mile, and the last quarter mile always require more effort," said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday.
Although California and New York, the two states hardest hit by the pandemic, celebrated their reopening with fireworks and a multi-million dollar lottery this week, hospitalizations in parts of Missouri have surged, with cases in Texas. The number has risen sharply, which illustrates the challenges facing the country this summer.
A major problem is the highly contagious and possibly more serious delta variant of the coronavirus first discovered in India. Although health officials say the vaccine is effective against it, there are concerns that it will cause an outbreak in states with lower vaccination rates.

According to data acquired by Finbold, Nigeria and South Korea top globally among countries that made online purchases via mobile devices, with both accounting for 65% of all e-commerce transactions as of April 2021. Among the top ten countries, Asia is dominating, accounting for 80% of the entrants. China ranks third, tied with Indonesia, representing 64%. The Philippines ranks fifth at 61%.
Other top countries include Thailand (61%), Vietnam (60%), Malaysia (60%), Saudi Arabia (59%), and Hong Kong (59%).
In North America, Mexico tops with 53% of all e-commerce transactions going through mobile devices, ranking 16th overall. The United States ranks second from the region and 35th overall, with a score of 29%.
Role of the pandemic in mobile commerce 
The report highlights the drivers behind the high rate of mobile devices in e-commerce. According to the research report, “In general, mobile commerce and e-commerce received a major boost due to the coronavirus pandemic. As countries imposed lockdowns, more people stayed at home and turned to online shopping for essential goods. However, before the pandemic, online transactions through mobile devices were already soaring."
Elsewhere, free delivery is driving the reason for online purchases at 52.6%, followed by coupons and discounts at 40.3%. Reviews from other customers rank third at 33.8%, followed by easy returning policy at 32.6%. Furthermore, quick and easy check out is motivating 29.6% of online shoppers to buy a product.
Furthermore, the report offers a projection on the future outlook for the mobile commerce sector. The report states that, “The role of mobile devices in online transactions will likely keep soaring. The continued penetration of smartphones and the internet remain to be the key drivers. Furthermore, retailers will potentially win over more customers as they design mobile-centered e-commerce platforms.”
As demand is projected to soar, retailers and developers are focusing on unveiling more user-friendly platforms.

Schools across the United States prepare for a surge in kindergarten children in the fall
School districts across the United States are hiring additional teachers in anticipation of becoming one of the largest kindergarten classes to date as coronavirus enrollment recovers after a pandemic.
While waiting for the arrival of students who have completed their school year next fall, educators support that many students are less prepared than usual due to the low preschool enrollment rate.
Stephen Burnett, Senior Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education at Rutgers University, said: He found that the number of preschool 4-year-olds attended decreased from 71% before the pandemic to 54% during the pandemic, making it much less likely that poor children would participate directly. Co-authored.
Kindergartens are not needed in most states. Parents usually wear “red shirts” on their kindergarten children in kindergarten classes to prepare them for a year of development. This year, even children near the cut-off age were absent from school due to health concerns and pandemic confusion.
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Among them was the daughter of Christina Neu. Her daughter is December’s birthday and the entry deadline is the end of August, so she’s already relatively old for the class, but she’s stopped. Throughout Kansas, kindergarten enrollment has fallen by nearly 9%.
“I was a little afraid that I didn’t have to deal with some unknowns there,” Neu said, saying that the eight-year-old eldest daughter had just been diagnosed with 26 food allergies before the pandemic. Her immune system was already overdriven. “We wanted to make sure that we were smart and safe as a family.”
Noi, who works at a retail store in Wichita, Kansas, cooked with her daughters, bought educational workbooks, and played educational games with her daughters. Although he has no regrets, he is worried about the burden on the kindergarten teacher.
“I’m really worried about stress and that only the teacher will accomplish everything in a big class,” she said.
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Due to the large amount of federal bailouts available, the school district is taking different approaches to its preparation.
In Orange County, Florida, it is estimated that there will be 17% more kindergarten classes than in the fall of 2020, and authorities are planning a five-and-a-half-week transition program at some of the poorest schools this summer.
Nearly 22% more kindergarten children are expected in the St. Paul area of ​​Minnesota than in the fall of 2020. The area will be tested in the summer to identify special needs that are being overlooked, such as vision problems and speech delay. , A veteran kindergarten teacher who is currently coordinating the district’s pre-kindergarten program.
She also said she just knew that the district was getting more money to expand the jump start to the kindergarten summer program. It includes a field trip to the strawberry patch and visits from dancers and painters.
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“The biggest thing about our radar is recognizing the trauma that has happened,” she said, adding that the district has a variety of staff “ready to make a noise.”
It is not yet clear how big the kindergarten classes will be in the fall. This increase could be offset by parents who decide to wait another year to send a 5-year-old child or choose homeschooling due to safety concerns.
Anyway, educators say they expect to deal with the effects of the pandemic for years.
Scott Elder, director of Albakirk Public School, said children who skipped kindergarten or homeschooled last year may be a little behind in numbers and letters. The same is true for children who register and study online, but they have always been connected to their parents and have not been able to receive support from them.
“When people talk about loss of learning and children’s delays, it’s not a quick solution. It’s going to be a multi-year solution, but it’s going to be.” ..
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In Connecticut, some school districts are targeting summer programs for upcoming kindergarten children who missed preschool. In an interview, the state’s chief academic officer, Irene Parisi, said the district is using federal bailouts to help and train the need to add staff and adjust their expectations.
“It’s important for teachers to understand that routines will probably be different from what they expected from learners in the past,” she said.
In the Freeman School District, which has 900 students in Rockford, Washington, Randy Russell hired a new teacher while preparing to add a third kindergarten class. He said that about one-third of preschoolers and kindergarteners in most rural areas about 15 miles (24.14 km) south of Spokane skipped this year’s school year, with similar declines in other parts of the region. Said there was.

The call for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has suffered a setback as the House of Representatives, Thursday said it would not support the move to abolish the scheme.

A House of Representatives member, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, had in a Bill that has passed the second reading in the National Assembly called for the scrapping of the scheme founding to 48 years ago to boost national integration.
But, Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly has no plan to abolish the NYSC.
According to him, the NYSC is the most successful national programme.
Adaramodu who disclosed this at the unveiling of Nine (9) books on the National Youth Service Corps, as well as the Film, “A Call To Service” said “Anybody is free to sponsor a bill, but the speaker and the rest of the house believe that the scheme has come to stay in Nigeria.
“The scheme is going nowhere and it is not the plan of the National Assembly to scrap it. I want to let you know that we are with you and for you. We are fully with you, we are together.
He noted that the scheme which recently marked its forty-eight anniversary has remained the most successful national programme.
In his address, former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon advocated for the establishment of the National Youth Service Trust Fund to cater for the financial empowerment of corps members as they pass out from service.
He said the fund would help them to establish their vocational businesses with the skills they acquire from the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in the course of service.
Gowon, who spoke virtually at the event, said contrary to calls against the scrapping of the scheme it is making a significant impact on the development of the country.
He said the scheme is one of the best things that has happened to Nigeria, adding that it is exposing youths to life-changing opportunities and has contributed immensely to the development of the country.
The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim lamented some challenges facing the scheme despite huge success mailing arising from the gap in the discharge of the obligations of stakeholders.
“Despite various challenges in its forty-eight years of operation, the NYSC has been a remarkable success. By largely discharging its mandate through the nation’s development objectives, the Scheme has become a national asset and a beacon of hope to Nigerian youths,” Ibrahim said.
“Accomplishments made on NYSC platform have strengthened the belief that youths can make meaningful contributions to national unity and development if their talents and skills are properly harnessed.”
However, he noted that problems such as inadequate office accommodation for state Secretariats as well as zonal and local government offices of the scheme and the establishment of the Service Trust Fund will support the adequate provision of infrastructural and other logistics for Orientation and other activities of the Scheme need to be addressed.
The president of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Prof Okpeh Okpeh, while reviewing the books said NYSC is one of the significant institutions that is holding us together. “It is significant to Nigeria’s development from a point that covers intermarriage to the unity of Nigeria,” noting that without the NYSC our national health sector would have collapsed.
He said NYSC has continuously demonstrated that it is in a good position to take this country to a greater height through its skill and entrepreneurship programme which was introduced in 2012.
“It is changing the labour market in contemporary Nigeria. It may not be contributing monies into the coffers of Nigeria but it is contributing immensely to national development,” Okpeh said.

A spring swoon in vaccinations has put President Joe Biden's goal of getting at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose into the arms of 70 percent of adults by the Fourth of July on shaky ground.
As of Monday, close to 64 percent of adults have received at least one dose of a vaccine, just shy of the pace needed to meet the goal. At the current pace, about 67 percent of the adult population will have received shots by the Fourth of July holiday.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari tried to undertake some major reforms in the power sector, but his intervention is marred by inconsistencies, overwhelming subsidy payments and recurring grid collapse.
Nigeria’s power sector was unbundled and privatised in 2013 to establish a competitive market to improve management and efficiency, attract private investment, increase generation, and provide a reliable and cost-efficient power supply.
However, the dream to deliver a cost-efficient power supply to Nigerians remains a pipe dream, due to poor leadership and weak regulatory intervention.
For instance,  many public institutions default to pay for power, with debts surging in billions even as government pays subsidies for liquidity shortfall. Also, the pricing for power has been the bane of the sector.
Another key problem is operation deficiencies and non-alignment of various power sector value chains consisting of generation, transmission and distribution, with each constantly trading blames.
The sector, despite privatisation, is weak due largely to underpayment of power costs by consumers which makes subsidy in the power sector thrive despite privatisation.
“Many Nigerians bypass power lines to access power without payment. This is hugely affecting cost recovery. There is also low electricity pricing because people are yet to pay the appropriate price for power. Most often we get directive from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC not to effect the appropriate price, which contradicts the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 on multi-year tariff Order. It also affects cost recovery efficiency.” President of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors,(ANED) Sunday Oduntan told The ICIR.
Despite being privatised, the Buhari administration has continued closing various gaps in the power sector value chains, including paying over N50bn for subsidy for the sector.
Ahmed Zakari, the Presidential Adviser on Power and Infrastructure revealed that the President is keen and focused on using numerous avenues to close infrastructural gaps in the power sector. He said $3 to $5billion  have been committed to upscale various power infrastructure in the country.
” Through support from the World Bank, we now have $1.6 billion has been devoted for the Transmission expansion programme. We signed another 500 million dollars for the development of the distribution sector. The Central Bank of Nigeria has also put out. Emergency funds for the distribution sector as well as transmission sector in various phases to the tune of 500 million dollars.”
” We also have the SIEMENS presidential power initiative that we’ve signed the engineering agreement. We are also looking at the performance improvement plans of the Discos to enable us to hold them accountable as they receive these support funds. This performance agreement will enable them to align their projects with funds that are available.
“We also have the national mass metering programme which is helping us to improve the revenue and sustainability of the sector while addressing the liquidity concerns in the sector.”
“With this enhanced metering on the service-based tariff, we can see the Nigerian Electricity supply industry generating over N100 billion in the near to mid-term. This is very impressive. The hypothesis that we have is that if you enhance payment discipline through the metering population, revenue will go up. We have proven that, “the presidential adviser said.

Scientists have found clues that the world’s leading COVID-19 vaccines offer lasting protection that could diminish the need for frequent booster shots, but they caution that more research is needed and that virus mutations are still a wild card.
Critical studies are underway, and evidence is mounting that immunity from the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna does not depend exclusively on antibodies that dwindle over time. The body has overlapping layers of protection that offer backup.
Pfizer and Moderna have fueled booster questions by estimating that people might need yearly shots, just like with flu vaccinations, and the companies are working to have some candidates ready this fall. But they will not decide when boosters get used — that will be up to health authorities in each country.
Other experts say boosters may be needed only every few years.

WASHINGTON - Moderna on Tuesday (June 1) filed for full United States approval of its Covid-19 vaccine, which is currently authorised only for emergency use in the country, becoming the second drugmaker to seek a broader regulatory nod.
The development comes weeks after rival Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech sought full approval for their Covid-19 vaccine in the US.
Full approval for the vaccines, which are at the forefront of global immunisation efforts, could be an important step in allaying vaccine hesitancy, a growing concern in the US and other wealthy nations.
It would also allow the vaccine makers to market their shots directly, as well as help companies and government agencies looking for vaccinations for their employees.
Moderna said it will continue to submit data to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a rolling basis over the coming weeks with a request for a priority review.
On completion of the submission, the FDA will notify the company when it is formally accepted for review, it added.
Moderna has an agreement with the US government to supply 300 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine.
More than 151 million doses of Moderna's vaccine have been distributed around the US, with roughly 124.5 million shots administered as at Monday, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Under an emergency-use authorisation, the FDA makes a product available to the public during an emergency based on the best available evidence, without waiting for all the evidence needed for full approval or clearance.
Moderna said in April its vaccine showed strong protection against the coronavirus six months after people received their second shot, with efficacy of more than 90 per cent against all cases of Covid-19 and more than 95 per cent against severe Covid-19.

All of these factors, along with a shift in the national strategy, are keeping the United States on pace to reach Mr. Biden’s goal of having 70 percent of the adult population get at least one shot by July 4. So far, 62 percent of adult Americans are there.
Vaccinated Americans have been encouraged to enjoy a summer that would have seemed unlikely last year. Americans are flying at rates not seen in about a year, many with plans to mingle among large crowds at parades and barbecues this Memorial Day weekend, the usual start of the summer in the United States.
People who are on the fence about getting a shot are more likely to get one if it is as easy as walking into a local pharmacy without an appointment, said Dr. Taison Bell, a critical care and infectious disease physician at the University of Virginia. Shifting resources away from the mass vaccination sites at stadiums to mobile clinics is starting to pay off, he said.
“The folks who were wait and see have seen the positive benefits,” Dr. Bell said, as their friends and family restart activities many put on hold for nearly a year. Even if they don’t believe in vaccines they don’t want to miss out, he said. “People are a lot more motivated.”

The Federal Government will soon launch Made-in-Nigeria helicopters, as the project is in the assessment stage by the Aviation authorities.
This was disclosed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) via its Twitter handle on Wednesday.
It tweeted, “Made-in-Nigeria Helicopter Underway as @fmaviationng Begins Assessment Process. The dream of Mr President to launch Made-in- Nigeria Helicopter before the end of his tenure is gradually coming to fulfilment as the project entered the assessment stage by the Aviation authorities.
The officers from the Ministry, its agencies visited @NaseniSolar where the @NASENIHQ Helicopter Hanger and Helipad are housed today in Abuja, for on-site assessment and evaluation of NASENI Helicopter.
In his opening remarks the EVC/CE @NASENIHQ Engr. Prof. Maiwalima Mohammad Sani Haruna represented by MD @NaseniSolar Engr. Dr Mahmoud Jaffaru said the Agency was ready to accept suggestions and support from @fmaviationng that would lead to successful completion of the project.”

To mark this year’s World Family Doctor’s Day, a passionate call has gone to the Nigerian family physicians to renew family medicine as unique and indispensable discipline critical in achieving universal health coverage in the country. Chairman of the Lagos Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, SOFPON, Dr Blessing Chukwukelu in a speech she delivered on behalf of the President of SOFPON, said family doctors are distinguished by their resolute commitment to patients, healthcare providers, and their communities. She maintained that family medicine must engage in new efforts to expand its scope of practice. ”We, physicians must therefore begin to define, delicate and demonstrate what family medicine is and how it is the true centre of healthcare.On the theme of the day: “Building the Future with Family Doctors.”, Chukwukelu who stated that family medicine would continue to fight for individuals and communities that the healthcare system had ignored noted that the theme resonates with the World Health Organisation’s, WHO, ”Year of the Health and Care Workers”. According to her, the theme is based on the four pillars of World Family Doctor’s Day 2021 which include building the future with family doctors and primary care teams; and building the future with family doctors and patients. Other pillars are building the future with family doctors and new technologies and building the future with family doctors and you. Continuing, Chukwukelu said that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, new technologies had emerged as fundamental tools for healthcare professionals to continue their mission, adding that family physicians must become advocates for an inclusive, equitable, accessible, and affordable health system. Corroborating her views, a Consultant Family Physician at the Family Medicine Department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Dr Oludaisi Oduniyi, said for Nigeria to achieve universal health coverage, family physicians were needed because they share the same habitat with patients in the communities and know the peculiarity of the issues patients are facing. Oduniyi said the comprehensive, compassionate, and people-centered care operated by family doctors was critical to attaining universal health coverage in Nigeria, adding that the burden of diseases had shifted direction to integrated, comprehensive and people-centered primary care. He said family doctors being the first point of contact of a patient with the healthcare system were experts in preventive, diagnosing, and treating the whole person. He said that patients desire affordable and accessible healthcare that was personalised to suit their peculiar health challenges, adding that family doctors manage over 90 per cent of health challenges. Oduniyi said that family physicians were committed to persons rather than diseases, saying these allowed them to build trust and bond with patients. “We share the same habitat with patients, so we know the peculiarity of the issues patients are facing. “We are trained to manage patient’s resources, consider their socio-economic resources and instead of telling them to do 10 laboratory tests, we can narrow it to two and make a diagnosis from there,” he said. Oduniyi said that the country needs more family physicians to achieve universal health coverage. “For instance, some communities may not have specialists; if a patient has heart challenges, a competent family physician should be able to manage common heart disease conditions, even though not a cardiologist,” he said. ”Family physicians are committed to persons rather than diseases, we are interested in the person that has TB rather than calling the person TB patient. ”We are skilled in handling acute or emergency care, we stabilise the patients before referring such patients to a neurosurgeon. Asides from seeing patients in the hospital, we are the only physicians certified to see patients at home. We take hospitals to patients’ homes and integrate family members to join us in the treatment. ”We are trained to manage patient’s resources, consider their socioeconomic resources, and instead of telling them to do 10 tests, we can narrow it to two and take it from there. He advised families to have their own personal family physician. ”For us to achieve universal health coverage in Nigeria, we need family physician because in some communities they may not have a cardiologist, and some states only have two cardiologists, if people have heart challenges, a competent family physician should be able to manage common heart disease condition, even though not a cardiologist.” ”Every contact we have with a patient is an opportunity for health promotion, if I’m at the helms of health affairs for this nation, I would encourage more doctors to embrace family physicians so that we can attain universal health coverage fast. World Family Doctor Day, celebrated annually on May 19, to highlight the role and contribution of family doctors and primary care teams in healthcare systems around the world.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is allowing eligible Haitian nationals residing in the U.S. to apply for a new 18-month designation for temporary protected status, reversing a Trump administration effort that had sought to end the special consideration.
In a statement Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cited security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty and other problems in Haiti for the decision.
“After careful consideration, we determined that we must do what we can to support Haitian nationals in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve so they may safely return home,” Mayorkas said.
DHS says a foreign country may be designated for temporary protected status, or TPS, because of conditions that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely or because the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. While a person with TPS cannot be removed from the U.S., DHS notes that it is a temporary benefit that doesn’t lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status.
DHS initially designated Haiti for TPS in January 2010 in the aftermath of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated the country. The designation was extended several times until the Trump administration announced in January 2018 that Haiti’s TPS designation would end effective July 22, 2019. Several lawsuits challenging the termination have allowed the designation to remain in effect.
“Today, the Biden administration affirmed America’s commitment to its humanitarian values,“ Murad Awawdeh, executive director for the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement. “Haitian New Yorkers can now rest easier knowing that their families can stay together and in their communities as a vital part of our economic and social fabric.”
The NYIC, an umbrella group for policy and advocacy organizations in the state, estimates that 5,200 Haitian recipients of TPS reside in New York. Saturday’s renewal of TPS affects more than the 50,000 Haitians living in the U.S. while redesignating TPS for Haitians who arrived in the U.S. after 2010 could benefit up to 100,000 more, according to the NYIC.
Among lawmakers applauding the decision was Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. “The last thing our country should be doing is forcing an entire community in the U.S. to decide between packing up their lives and tearing their families apart by self-deporting, or becoming undocumented and forced into the shadows of our society,” Menendez said.
DHS said the new TPS designation enables Haitian nationals residing in the U.S. as of Friday — as well as individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti — to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements. Those who attempt to travel to the U.S. after the announcement will not be eligible for TPS and may be sent home, the agency said.
Haiti’s 18-month designation will go into effect on the publication date of the Federal Register notice, which DHS said will come shortly and provide instructions for applying.
Individuals eligible for TPS under the new designation must file an application for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the registration period, DHS said. Current beneficiaries under Haiti’s TPS designation also must apply, the agency said.

As part of efforts to end COVID-19, the 74th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) has promised to urgently end the pandemic and prevent the next one by building a healthier, safer and fairer world.
WHA is World Health Organisation’s (WHO) highest decision-making body and is attended by delegations from across the globe.

This year’s virtual session, which holds from May 24 to June, would also be open to associate members, observers, invited representatives of the United Nations (UN), inter-governmental organisations and non-state actors.

WHO, in a statement, yesterday, said over the past year, cases of the virus rose 40-fold to 162 million globally, while the number of deaths increased as much as 11 times to more than 3.3 million.

It noted that the pandemic has hit all nations hard, but its impact had been harshest on vulnerable communities.

Its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, observed: “A crisis often brings out the best in people and organisations. From the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to our technical guidance, the Solidarity Trial, the UN Supply Chain Task Force, the OpenWHO.org learning platform and initiatives like the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, including its COVAX partnership and the Solidarity Response Fund, WHO has given countries effective and evidence-informed tools to prevent infections, save lives and maintain essential health services. I am especially proud of the incredible work that WHO staff have done all over the world in the past 17 months to support countries to put these tools to work.”

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to the jabs directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation or GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and global health agency.

But the pandemic is far from over and the global response is at a critical phase. Stark contrasts still undermine progress, with vaccine inequity being one of the most urgent issues, posing a threat to ending the pandemic and to global recovery – over 75 per cent of the doses have been administered in only 10 countries while the low-income have dispensed less than half a per cent of global vaccines.

Tedros added: “This year’s World Health Assembly will play a vital role in shaping the global health architecture of the future and strengthening WHO to fulfil its mission and mandate.”

The Assembly’s agenda would focus on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s Triple Billion targets of one billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage, one billion more better protected from health emergencies and one billion more enjoying better health and well-being.

WHO’s report would also be presented during the meeting. A high-level segment would hold on May 24 (10:00 -12:00 CEST) with participation from Heads of State and Government and special guests in addition to an address by the WHO Director-General.

The Assembly’s two committees – Committee A, which deals with predominantly programme and budget matters and Committee B, which deals mainly with administrative, financial and legal matters – will then consider the individual agenda items.

Highlights include: Proposed programme budget 2022–2023; WHO’s work in Health Emergencies, the COVID-19 response, including mental health; preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic; Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property; Global action on patient safety; WHO global strategy on health, environment and climate change; Non communicable diseases; Antimicrobial resistance; Immunisation Agenda 2030; Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery; Poliomyelitis; and WHO transformation.

Three reports on COVID-19 response will be presented at the Assembly: the Health Emergencies Programme’s Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC), the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 Response.

The Assembly will be webcast live with interpretation in the WHO ’s six official languages. Proceedings can be followed at: https://www.who.int/about/governance/world-health-assembly/seventy-fourth-world-health-assembly
Provisional agenda in six languages: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74/A74_1-en.pdf

Meanwhile, the WHO, yesterday, issued new guidance for research on genetically modified mosquitoes to fight malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

The new direction from WHO sets essential standards to inform future research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, particularly in addressing issues relating to ethics, safety, affordability and effectiveness.

According to the WHO, malaria and other vector-borne diseases, including dengue and Zika, affect millions globally. More than 400,000 people die yearly from malaria alone.

It is believed that if proven safe, effective and affordable, genetically modified vector mosquitoes could be valuable new tools to fight these diseases and eliminate their enormous health, social and economic burden.

The guidance framework for testing genetically modified mosquitoes, developed in partnership with TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, and the GeneConvene Global Collaborative, an initiative of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, describes best practices to ensure that the study and evaluation of genetically modified mosquitoes as public health tools is safe, ethical and rigorous.

Current strategies for limiting transmission of mosquito-borne diseases are only partially effective. New, complementary approaches are needed to close the gaps in current vector control interventions, such as effective control of outdoor biting, and to provide alternatives to manage the increasing threat of insecticide resistance. Research suggests genetically modified mosquitoes could be powerful and cost-effective tools to supplement existing interventions.

Also, international organisations have come together to launch a new One Health High-Level Expert Panel to improve understanding of how diseases with the potential to trigger pandemics emerge and spread.

The panel will advise four international organizations – the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO); the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE); the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and the WHO – on the development of a long-term global plan of action to avert outbreaks of diseases like H5N1 avian influenza; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS); Ebola; Zika, and, possibly, COVID-19. Three quarters of all emerging infectious diseases originate in animals.

It will operate under the One Health Approach, which recognises the links between the health of people, animals, and the environment and highlights the need for specialists in multiple sectors to address any health threats and prevent disruption to agri-food systems.

Key first steps will include systematic analyses of scientific knowledge about the factors that lead to transmission of a disease from animal to human and vice versa; development of risk assessment and surveillance frameworks; identification of capacity gaps as well as agreement on good practices to prevent and prepare for zoonotic outbreaks.

The panel will consider the impact of human activity on the environment and wildlife habitats. Critical areas will include food production and distribution; urbanization and infrastructure development; international travel and trade; activities that lead to biodiversity loss and climate change; and those that put increased pressure on the natural resource base – all of which can lead to the emergence of zoonotic diseases.

The panel will guide development of a dynamic new research agenda and draw up evidence-based recommendations for global, regional, national and local action.

Ghebreyesus said: “Human health does not exist in a vacuum, and nor can our efforts to protect and promote it. The close links between human, animal and environmental health demand close collaboration, communication and coordination between the relevant sectors. The High-Level Expert Panel is a much-needed initiative to transform One Health from a concept to concrete policies that safeguard the health of the world’s people.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said masks and social distancing are no longer necessary for people who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. It's a move the agency said was driven by scientific evidence that the vaccines play a major role in curbing both infections and transmission of the virus.
In announcing the agency's updated guidelines, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said there are "numerous reports in the literature" to demonstrate the safety and real-world effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines.
Walensky highlighted, in particular, three recent studies that demonstrated the impact of the vaccines on symptomatic and asymptomatic infections and one study published just last week on the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines against two variants that are known to be circulating in the United States.
The findings all add to a growing body of evidence that the vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and death from Covid-19 and that they help prevent people from spreading the virus to others.

As long as the virus can be controlled, there is hope to remove the mask. But now is not the best time to take off the mask. We must learn to prevent ourselves and increase our awareness of protection.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has assured the citizens that the country’s “extremely bright economic future” cannot be aborted despite the current challenges facing it.
He spoke yesterday during a facility tour of SecureID’s premises, a smart card manufacturing company, which is based in Lagos.
A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, yesterday, said SecureID is the first of such companies in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the three such cutting-edge facilities on the continent, with top prime global certifications.
According to the statement, while inspecting the facility, Osinbajo had said: “The economic future of our nation is extremely bright. Yes, we have challenges today and they may look daunting. But let me assure you that these issues will be resolved. The march of this nation to its manifest destiny as Africa’s leading economic power will not be aborted. We are more than able to overcome.”
He said the Buhari Administration in “following the recommendation of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, has determined that manufacturing will be our main focus in bringing about dynamic growth, jobs and exports”.
“This will mean retooling our business environment for greater competitiveness, especially with the takeoff of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
“We are rethinking our tax regimes, sorting out external and internal trade issues, getting our regulatory authorities; SON, NAFDAC, and even Customs, to see their roles more as business facilitators rather than policemen or revenue generators. Our environment must be friendly for local businesses first, foreign investments will follow enthusiastically,” Osinbajo said.
Commenting on the efforts of the administration to position the country as a leading economic beacon on the continent, the VP also stated that the Buhari administration was ramping up efforts in improving the country’s infrastructure and digital space.
“Aside from the work we are doing with other infrastructure such as rail, roads and power, we are committed to a plan of democratising broad band connectivity. Our programme, which we have reiterated in our Economic Sustainability Plan, is broadband connectivity for all by 2023.
“The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy launched the National Broadband Plan which is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria of a minimum 25mbps in urban areas and 10mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90% of the population at affordable prices by the target date. Broadband connectivity is as important as electricity in the digital age. Unlike electricity, we do not have to make several mistakes before getting it right,” the VP said.
Hailing the efforts of the founder and Managing Director of SecureID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, Prof. Osinbajo described SecureID facility as a place of history, innovation and creativity.
Mrs. Akinkugbe highlighted the significance of the Vice President’s visit, noting that he had come to see some of the much-touted potential being realised. She added that SecureID was a good entrepreneurial story of an abiding faith in God and the nation, proving the viability of investing and staying in the course.
She commended the Federal Government for establishing institutions and agencies to support and encouraged start-ups, MSMEs and other enterprises that had offered assistance to the company.

The small United States manufacturers that rushed to produce face masks over the past year are now stuck with hundreds of millions of unsold face coverings because China is flooding the market with below-cost masks and most US mask makers may not survive the end of the pandemic.
That is the thrust of a letter to President Joe Biden released on Tuesday by a trade group representing 26 small manufacturers that set up production of the badly needed safety items as the health crisis took hold last year.
The manufacturers said more than half their production would be forced offline in 60 days if they do not get immediate federal aid, costing thousands of jobs. They blame low-priced imports, especially from China.
“We write to you with a request for immediate help against unfair trade practices by foreign nations that threaten the viability of the US domestic PPE mask manufacturing industry, as well as future US pandemic preparedness efforts,” the newly formed group, the American Mask Manufacturer’s Association, said in the letter.
The group said they can produce 3.7 billion surgical masks and more than one billion of the higher-protection N95 masks a year — and are now sitting on stockpiles of 260 million surgical masks in their warehouses that they are struggling to sell. Another 20 million N-95s are also on factory shelves.
When masks were in short supply last year, prices surged. But prices have now crashed, and hospital administrators and others are shopping for the best prices in a market crowded with new offerings.
A box of 50 surgical masks that sold for more than $50 a year ago can be found for $5 now.
The trade group said while there are three to six cents in raw material in every surgical mask, imported Chinese surgical masks now sell for an average of one cent each. “China … is effectively dumping masks on the US market at well below actual costs.”
“If this remains unchanged, 54 percent of our production will go offline in 60 days and 84.6 percent in less than a year,” the group said in the letter. The group said they had created more than 7,800 US jobs in the last year but roughly a third of those have already been lost to production cuts.

ABUJA, April 30 (Reuters) - Nigeria has increased the capital requirement for pension managers in an attempt to steer the biggest sector of its fund management industry to target untapped opportunities in the much larger, informal sector of small business.
Three pension managers are in talks to merge to meet the new capital requirement of 5 billion naira ($13.14 million) by next year, two pension executives with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Pension funds currently operate with 1 billion naira capital.
Fund managers include Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, a unit of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sigma Pensions, which sold a majority stake to private equity firm Actis, and several others with either banking or insurance parent companies.
The National Pension Commission was not available for comment.
Nigeria’s pension funds were worth around 12.3 trillion naira as of March, up from 10.5 trillion naira in 2019. Fund growth slowed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but a strong rally on the equity market helped counter historically low bond yields.
Africa’s most populous country faces a shrinking labour market, double-digit inflation and low growth in the face of mounting insecurity. So far, contributions are mainly from the millions working for the government or big companies.
But there are untapped opportunities in the small business sector, the executives said, adding that the sector needed to overcome challenges on how to track them.
The growth in pensions has lifted fund flow into equities and bonds in Nigeria. Current regulations allow Nigerian pension managers to invest up to 30% of their portfolio in equities and limit investment in government bonds to a maximum of 80%. ($1 = 380.5500 naira) (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha in Abuja Editing by Matthew Lewis)

TRAVELLERS have been left stranded with little or no communication as flights between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain suspended since March 17 over dispute relating to Covid-19 testing.
The UAE had imposed antigens rapid test on travellers from 58 countries, including Nigeria, but the Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika said there was no basis for the test as it was devoid of any scientific backing. The Nigerian government thereafter suspended flights between both countries.
On March 24, the UAE rescinded its position but stated it would only allow a maximum of 200 passengers with direct flights from Nigeria, who had negative PCR test certificates conducted 48 hours before boarding over a period of two weeks.
Expectations that the rift would soon be resolved soared after the UAE shifted grounds, but both parties have kept mum about ongoing talks, leaving travellers stranded and frustrated.
Some Nigerians living and working in the UAE came to vacation in Nigeria shortly before the flight ban and have been unable to return to their jobs. Some have also complained about their visas getting expired and called for a quick resolution to the situation.
A Twitter user with the handle @HopeisPotential wrote: “Please help… we are yet to get any update regarding the Nigeria and UAE flight suspension, jobs are at stake, funds have been lost, we need your help. Please end the suspension of flights between the two countries”.
Another user @tayo_temi, expressing her frustration, said: “Do you even realize your silence on the flight ban between the UAE and Nigeria is disastrous for Nigerians home and in UAE?”.
Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Musa Nuhu, while addressing the issue during a press conference on Monday April 26, said extensive deliberations had taken place and both parties had reached a compromise.
Nuhu gave the assurance that an update would be provided within 48 hours.
“The gap has been significantly closed between the position of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They have met some of our requirements, we’re just waiting for one confirmation. Very shortly, announcement would be made on the outcome, hopefully within 48 hours,” Nuhu said.
However, it has been nearly two weeks since that assurance was given and there has been no additional official communication, leaving the public in the dark.

Nowadays, many people are forced to travel long distances because of their work, and countries should consult with each other as soon as possible in order to find a solution.

El Al is planning to ramp up its flight schedules to the United States in the coming weeks. The airline will increase frequencies to key gateways in the country as travel demand rises. However, the Israeli airline isn’t the only one eying an expansion in the market, with other carriers hot on its heels.
Jump
According to Globes, El Al is planning a major increase in flights to its US destinations to meet growing demand. The airline will fly 30 weekly flights from Tel Aviv to the US in June, much higher than the current skeleton services.
From June, the carrier will up flights from Tel Aviv to New York (including Newark) from three daily services to four. This means there will be four flights every day of the week, barring Sabbath on Saturdays. Fares on this route will start from $700 round-trip as competition heats up.
Additionally, both Miami and Los Angeles will also see their frequencies bumped up. Both destinations will now have five weekly flights instead of the current three. Fares on the Tel Aviv-Miami route is currently available starting at $663, while Los Angeles will set travelers back at least $900 round-trip.
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Not the only one
While El Al plans its expansion on US routes, other airlines are in lockstep. Delta, United, and American are all drawing up plans to capture traffic on the rebounding Israel-US market and other key routes.
United is restarting direct links between Tel Aviv and Chicago next week, offering three weekly flights. Meanwhile, flights from New York to Tel Aviv will double to twice daily. Lastly, the carrier will add three flights out of San Francisco starting June 4th. In total, United plans to fly 24 weekly flights to Israel this summer.Delta is also upping services between Tel Aviv and New York from seven to ten flights weekly. Starting June 1st, this will increase to two daily flights, in hope of growing passenger bookings. However, Delta is even more bullish about the future of the market, with plans to increase services to three daily flights in the days leading up to the Jewish holidays in September.American Airlines is also plotting increases on some routes to Israel. The carrier will add daily flights from Tel Aviv to New York from June 5th, along with three weekly flights from Miami. American is also planning a new route from Dallas to Tel Aviv, operating three times weekly from November 1st.
Why?
While Israel is drawing up plans to reopen its border to vaccinated tourists, they remain firmly shut for now. However, since Israeli travelers can enter the US freely, passengers have been flocking to book their flights in droves. This has meant full flights between the countries and downward pressure on price as well. Expect to see high demand on these routes all summer.

If you are about to travel to the United States and do not know how to plan your trip or make the most of your visit to this destination. This article of Tips to visit the United States is ideal for you.
Things you need to know before traveling to the U.S.
The United States is one of the countries you will have to apply for a visa and passport, so before your trip, do not forget to have the requirements to enter the country.
Before your trip, you should learn at least the basics of English (or at least numbers, greetings, and some phrases) to be able to communicate; because in this city it is very common that the inhabitants do not know how to speak Spanish or any language other than English (except for California, Texas, and Florida, where most people have adapted to be bilingual due to tourism from Latin America).
This country is also very reserved when it comes to the exchange rates accepted in their establishments; so, before traveling, try to change your currency to USD to avoid problems with your payments or expenses within the country.
An interesting fact that many do not know or are not used to (except for Mexicans) is that tipping is strictly mandatory in restaurants. Take this into account to avoid problems with the waiters.
Schedules are also very different in this country and tend to vary according to the town and city. Always try to keep up to date with the corresponding schedule not to affect your activities and entertainment schedules in the city.
Travel arrangements
If you are planning a trip during the vacation months, try to make your reservations in advance, cities like Miami and Los Angeles are very busy in the summer, so your car rental services in Miami, Los Angeles, hotels, and reservations in restaurants and clubs should be made in advance.
Transportation methods in the major U.S. cities
New York City
New York is one of the most important metropolises in the United States, that's why we can't miss its distinctive yellow cabs; however, it is not the service we would recommend if you are only going to the city on vacation. In this city, shared transportation and private transportation will be your best choice.
Orlando
The city of Disney is one of the busiest years after year. That's why getting a Car Rental Orlando service will be your best choice to move between the various attractions that abound in the city.
San Diego
Belonging to California, San Diego is one of the most popular tourist destinations for all travelers looking to visit beautiful beaches and visit one of the cities. Here, Car Rental San Diegoand private transportation services are the safest way to go from one destination to another without complications and at your own pace.
San Francisco
Surely you have heard of the famous city of the red bridge or Golden Gate Bridge? Well, yes, this is one of the main cities and destinations to visit throughout the year and mobility can be a bit difficult in it; that is why we recommend taking public transportation! As it is the most efficient (this if you are not in a hurry), if you want a more successful and personalized trip, we recommend to get a Car Rental in San Francisco SFO.

The activities of Ponzi schemes operators have been on the increase in Nigeria, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation. Several young people have fallen victim to these scams.
To curb this menace, commercial banks and other financial institutions have been tasked to support investment clubs. Tomie Balogun, Founder, The Green Investment Club (TGIC) is one of the investment experts who has called for more support to curb Ponzi schemes in the country.
She disclosed this at TGIC’s event tagged “The money movements of the young Nigerian of today.” According to her, the economic fallout from events such as the global market crash, economic recession and COVID-19 pandemic has pushed young Nigerians into the Ponzi camp.
She said, “The economic situation and the high incidence of these fraudulent schemes show an urgent need for financial education. TGIC is working to bridge the financial literacy gap among young people in Nigeria through its products and services. The club, from 35 members at its inception to over 1,700 members in three years, is targeting 10,000 members over the next five years.
“Our five-year vision is to help at least 10,000 people acquire financial education and provide them with investment advisory services. We expect this to increase savings deposits at financial institutions. The deposits will be mobilized to invest in small businesses in the economy. When these companies are supported, they will provide jobs for more people and reduce unemployment figures by at least 20%.”
She disclosed that the club found direct investment opportunities in the capital market, agribusiness, consumer lending, logistics, FinTech and real estate development sectors in Nigeria, United Kingdom and the United States.
Oladunni Olawuyi, Chief Operating Officer, Apel Asset Limited explained that investment platforms need the support of financial institutions to boost investment education.
She said, “The investment clubs help to clean up the economy of Ponzi schemes, promote financial education and diversification of investments in different economies.”
Unify exchange rate to cut production cost
Balogun tasked the Federal Government to unify the country’s exchange rate to reduce production costs. To her, multiple exchange rates lead to arbitrary fees, production costs, and higher prices for goods and services.
“The government should help SMEs and the manufacturing sector to increase their production in order to boost gross domestic product. The COVID-19 pandemic, despite the challenges, came with many investment opportunities for savvy investors,” she added.

The Biden administration announced this week that the US will donate 60 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to other countries in need. The announcement comes as India and Brazil face devastating surges in Covid-19 cases and deaths, with hospitals overrun and oxygen in short supply. Recently, France, New Zealand and Spain committed to sharing stocks too, and for months now, China, India, Russia, Serbia, Israel and the UAE have been making vaccine donations of their own.

While sharing vaccines is welcome, it is nowhere near enough to address yawning inequities in global vaccine access. For that reason, many members of the US Congress, from Nancy Pelosi, Jan Schakowsky and Ro Khanna to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have been urging the Biden administration to change its approach on intellectual property protections.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also appealed to President Biden personally to support a proposal to waive intellectual property rights for Covid-19 related vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The Biden administration promised medical aid to India but has yet to end the US opposition to the waiver at the World Trade Organization, which meets again on the issue April 30. Although more than 100 countries support the waiver, the US along with the EU, Australia and other wealthy governments, have stood in the way. Undoubtedly, there are other factors affecting global supply too, but if a waiver had been adopted last October, when it was proposed, it might have already unlocked new production capacity.

The New York Times editorial board recently joined the chorus demanding a waiver, echoing Nobel laureates and former world leaders, hundreds of lawmakers from Europe, the head of the World Health Organization, faith leaders like the Pope, and countless civil society organizations and unions. Sixty percent of US voters support a waiver and the new US Trade representative, Katherine Tai, appears open minded too. She’s said “the market once again has failed in meeting the health needs of developing countries” and urged members of the WTO “to consider what modifications and reforms to our trade rules might be necessary.”

In the US, anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to be vaccinated, but in many countries even frontline health workers may wait months, if not years, for their shot. Last year, President Biden told Ady Barkan, a prominent health care advocate, that Trump’s “America First” approach “lacked any human dignity.”

At present, there is a serious inequality in the distribution of vaccines among countries in the world. Although countries are donating covid-19 vaccines to other countries in need, it can not solve the shortage of vaccines. The most important thing is that the United States should not use intellectual property rights to prevent vaccine access and try to solve the problem of uneven distribution.

Accra, Ghana – The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has released its 15th Annual Report demonstrating the significant progress Ghana and the United States have made in partnership
to fight malaria. Ghana’s efforts to sustain essential malaria services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic continues to save lives and the United States is proud to support these efforts under PMI through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) programs.
PMI has partnered with Ghana to fight malaria since 2006, contributing $361 million to date. PMI has supported the purchase and delivery of 19,948,473 bed nets, 19,106,440 doses of antimalarial medications, and 31,407,600 malaria rapid diagnostic tests. The initiative supported the training of 220,627 health workers, while strengthening health systems to reinforce and amplify Ghana’s efforts to end this deadly, yet entirely preventable, disease. PMI also supports annual indoor residual spraying and seasonal malaria chemoprevention in eligible districts in northern Ghana.
PMI has also supported the Government of Ghana to conduct malaria-related surveys and operational research. PMI partners with Ghana’s Noguchi Memorial Institute and National Malaria Control Program to conduct annual insecticide resistance studies to inform the deployment of indoor residual spraying and bed net distribution interventions.
PMI remains committed to supporting the Government of Ghana to achieve its targets for malaria pre-elimination by 2030 in line with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance objectives. U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator Raj Panjabi, appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, says, “Science shows we can beat malaria and we can beat it in our lifetime. Yet we need bold action to stop COVID-19 from holding us back. The United States is proud to partner with Ghana to continue the fight.”
About PMI
The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) supports 24 partner countries in sub-Saharan Africa and 3 programs in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Southeast Asia to control and eliminate malaria. Led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PMI delivers cost-effective, lifesaving malaria interventions—such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and essential medicines—and invests in health workers and health systems to accelerate the global fight against this deadly infectious disease. Thanks to the generosity of the American people, PMI benefits more than 700 million people at risk of malaria worldwide each year.

Airfares on India-US flights have increased significantly since the American government's advisory to its citizens to avoid travelling to India due to a recent surge in Covid-19 cases, aviation industry sources said on Sunday.
Average fare for an economy class ticket on a India-US flight is around ₹50,000, but the fares for this week's flights are hovering around ₹1.5 lakh, the sources mentioned.
High demand for tickets on India-US flights after the advisory on Thursday has led to the spike in fares, they said.
"Many passengers want to go to US immediately as they don't want to get stuck here if further restrictions are put in place on India-US flights," said one of the sources.
Some other countries, including Germany, the UK and the UAE, have also restricted air travel from India. The UAE has banned travel from India for 10 days from Sunday due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
The US government on Thursday had put India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives on its Level 4 travel advisory, which means asking Americans not to travel to these countries.

Meanwhile, private chartered flights within the country are also in high demand these days, mainly for taking Covid-19 patients from smaller cities to bigger cities for better medical treatment. 
An official of a Mumbai-based charter flight operator said his planes have been busy for the last couple of days as they have been conducted continuous air ambulance flights for high net-worth individuals.
The price of private chartered flights have increased by up to two times, said a Delhi-based general aviation company official.
India logged a record 3,49,691 new coronavirus infections in a day taking its total tally of Covid-19 cases to 1,69,60,172, while active cases crossed the 26-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
The death toll increased to 1,92,311 with a record 2,767 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

With the goal of improving the Nigerian Healthcare System, Carna Health Investments Limited (Carna), a Nigerian healthcare investment vehicle created by Cedar Advisory Partners Limited ("Cedar", has revealed that it is providing long-term equity funding and enabling the growth of facilities/institutions with high-growth potential across the Nigerian healthcare value chain.
In a disclosure made by the company's Managing Director, Afolabi Adetola, he shared that the investments cuts across all strata of the health sector, even while the company is currently renovating and upscaling Betta Hospital, Orile - Agege Lagos.
The statement read: "At Carna, we are building the most efficient, standard and affordable healthcare ecosystem in Nigeria. Within the last 10 years, we had advised major hospitals and healthcare operators in Nigeria in various capacities through our parent company, Cedar.
"As advisers, operators, and users of healthcare in Nigeria, we understand first-hand the challenges with maintaining an efficient healthcare space and are driven by the need for increased capacity for the delivery of quality healthcare in Nigeria as well as the opportunities within the industry and its practice.
"So, we morphed into a healthcare investing platform. Given that we acknowledge that the issues are multi-faceted, our approach is also multi-faceted.
"We, therefore, set out to provide long-term equity funding and enable the growth of facilities/institutions with high-growth potential across the healthcare value chain including but not limited to primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals, diagnostic and clinical laboratories, health insurance firms, and pharmacies.


"We understand that investing in healthcare in Nigeria is a long-term business and requires patient capital. While we acknowledge the role of the government and public funding, the private investor who will drive efficiency and global best practices over the foreseeable future can unlock immense opportunities.
"Our approach is centered on ecosystem-building to enable resource-sharing, standardization and cost-efficiency. We have made investments in laboratory and imaging diagnostic, health insurance firm and health management firms.
"Within our general practice vertical, we are building the largest ecosystem of hospitals providing quality primary and secondary healthcare through model practices with the goal of achieving greater efficiency and improving patient experience. All hospitals and facilities managed within the Carna network will guarantee a standard level of care across all our locations in Nigeria.

"A core part of our strategy is the management of a network of hospitals and day clinics. With this model, human and material resources including doctors, nurses, medical and non-medical practitioners, technology and systems, clinical and non-clinical administration can be centralized and accessed by all facilities within the network.
"Our day clinics under the brand name, CarnaMed, are 12-hour outpatient facilities with the mandate to offer quick, affordable and quality primary healthcare services to lower middle-income and middle-income segments of the population in mostly densely populated areas.
"Its primary services include general consultation, vaccination, urgent care, family planning, and other health packages while fitted with laboratories and pharmacies. In select locations, CarnaMed clinics will also offer dentistry, optometry and dermatology services.
"The hospitals we are interested in are purpose-built practices in urban areas with a certain bed capacity. Our current investments include a leading laboratory and imaging diagnostic, a national health insurance firm and a health management firm.
"We are counting down to the launch of our flagship CarnaMed clinic, sited in a strategic location, which will happen within the next two months.
"Most recently, we took up Betta Hospital, a potential 50-bed capacity healthcare facility located at Orile Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria. The hospital is a legacy hospital which was founded about 40 years ago.
"The hospital's services include primary and secondary care, obstetrics and gynaecology, antenatal and postnatal care, diagnostics and wellness checks, emergency care, surgeries, paediatrics, and other specialist care services round the clock.
"The facilities in the hospital include a standard theatre, a well-equipped laboratory, pharmacy, standardised wards, delivery, consulting and emergency rooms, and other required facilities.
"We have ensured that Betta Hospital is run by a competent and compassionate medical team of well-trained and skilled medical doctors, nurses, residents, pharmacy technologists and other healthcare professionals.
"Since we began managing Betta Hospital, we have renovated the facility, implemented a number of operational improvements and are instituting standard operating procedures to enable quality assurance and clinical audit."

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced new employer tax credits and other steps to encourage people reluctant to be inoculated to get the COVID-19 vaccine as his administration tries to overcome diminishing demand for the shots. The moves came as Biden celebrated reaching his latest goal of administering 200 million coronavirus doses in his first 100 days in office.
With more than 50% of adults at least partially vaccinated and roughly 28 million vaccine doses being delivered each week, demand has eclipsed supply as the constraining factor to vaccinations in much of the country.
In a White House speech on Wednesday, Biden acknowledged entering a “new phase” in the federal vaccination effort that relies on increased outreach to Americans to get their shots, both to protect them and their communities.
“Vaccines can save your own life, but they can also save your grandmother’s life, your co-worker’s life, the grocery store clerk or the delivery person helping you and your neighbours get through the crisis,” Biden said. “That’s why you should get vaccinated.”
Over the past week, the pace of inoculation in the U.S. has slowed slightly. That is partly a reflection of disruptions from the “pause” in administration of the Johnson & Johnson shot for a safety review, but also of softening interest for vaccines in many places even as eligibility has been opened to all those older than 16.
As the vaccination program progresses, the administration believes it will only get more difficult to sustain the current pace of about 3 million shots per day. Roughly 130 million Americans have yet to receive one dose.
Surveys have shown that vaccine hesitancy has declined since the rollout of the shots, but administration officials believe they have to make getting vaccinated easier and more appealing, particularly for younger Americans who are less at risk from the virus and do not feel the same urgency to get a shot. That means providing incentives and encouragement to get vaccinated, as well as reducing the friction surrounding the vaccination process.
Biden announced a tax credit for small businesses to provide paid leave for those getting vaccinated or potentially needing to take time off to recover from side effects. Paid for through the $1.9 trillion virus relief package passed last month, the tax change would provide a credit of up to $511 per day, per employee for businesses with fewer than 500 workers to ensure that those workers or businesses don’t suffer a penalty by getting vaccinated.

Uber Technologies drivers in some African countries including Nigeria and Kenya have gone on strike to demand a higher share of commissions due to increases in fuel prices and inflationary pressures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The US ride-hailing service in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, already has limited trips available on the app, leading to a sharp rise in fares in Lagos, the country’s commercial hub.
“We are aware of a protest taking place today by a small group of e-hailing drivers, resulting in slightly longer waiting times for riders,” Uber said in an emailed statement Monday.
Cab operators are unhappy about price adjustments, high commissions taken by ride-hailing companies and passengers not properly identifying themselves. Some drivers on competing app Bolt Technology, that has taken significant market share in Nigeria, are also on strike.
“Drivers are asking the platforms to reduce their commission,” said Innocent, an Uber driver in Lagos. “We are struggling to survive the current economic situation.”
Food inflation soared 22.95 per cent in March in Africa’s largest economy, the most in 15 years, according to the country’s statistics agency. One in three people are unemployed in the West African nation and many have turned to the ride hailing platforms to make a living. Uber had about 9,000 drivers on its app in Nigeria as of 2018, the company said.
“We constantly evaluate our operations to ensure we continue to provide the best earnings for drivers on the platform,” said Femi Akin-Laguda, Bolt country manager in Nigeria. Bolt increased fares in November last year to mitigate a fuel price increase, Akin-Laguda said.
Uber started in South African cities in 2013 and has spread to other parts of the continent. E-hailing platforms often make up the drivers only employment, making them very sensitive to fare adjustments.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Nigeria Thursday said it is supporting the West African government to monitor health inequities and ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is attained by 2030.
The UHC means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
In a statement on Thursday, WHO Nigeria Country Representative Walter Kazadi Mulombo said: “To improve this situation, we need to act on the social and economic determinants of health, by working across sectors to improve living and working conditions, and access to education, particularly for the most marginalized groups.
“Communities need to be engaged as partners, through their networks and associations, to shape and drive health and development interventions.”
The UHC includes the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course, according to the WHO.
The coronavirus pandemic disrupted a lot of health services across the world, including Nigeria where a lot of people had their medical routines distorted.
The statement said a WHO report indicates that over 73% of the population make out-of-pocket payments for health services and only 6.8 million out of a population of over 200 million have access to healthcare services which is not up to 10% of the entire population.
The discussions to review the National Health Insurance Act to make it mandatory for enrollment of all persons is a critical input in addressing this gap, WHO said.
“WHO Nigeria is supporting the government to strengthen capacities for the use of disaggregated data, based on socio-economic stratification of the population,” the WHO said, adding that it “is providing technical support for the policies and strategies that would ensure that a lot more people have financial access to quality health services.”