At least 20 inmates have died of pulmonary tuberculosis and about a hundred suffered the infection in the old Katsina custodial centre, insiders have told PREMIUM TIMES. They described the incident as an effect of corruption and a “shockingly poor” state of hygiene and health services in the 104-year-old facility.

Senior officials, including those in charge of the facility in Katsina, have attempted a coverup to avoid accountability, this newspaper learnt. Also, officials, who should know because their role involves receiving reports on such development, were kept in the dark, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

A senior official expressed shock that “such thing could be happening and I will not know but I will not dismiss it.”

The prison, constructed in 1918 by the British, has an installed capacity of 300 inmates but currently holds about 900, an official said. Medical experts say living in an overcrowded space and poor nutrition and environmental hygiene raise the risk of TB spread from an infected person.

According to Medline Plus, an online health information resource run by the United States National Library of Medicine, pulmonary TB is a contagious lung infection that spreads easily when people breathe in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person.

Due to a weak and sluggish criminal justice system, many suspects still undergoing trial languish in prisons, causing severe overcrowding in the facilities and a tremendous risk of spread of contagious infections such as TB.

“Officers In Charge (of prisons) deliberately keep inmates’ numbers high so they can claim more money for their feeding,” a prison source said asking not to be named as he has no permission to talk to journalists. “In connivance with Police DPOs, they arrest vulnerable people, go to court, and remand them in custodial centres.”

“Bad things are happening”
At the beginning of April, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, 71 inmates of the Katsina prison were infected. But by the middle of the month, 89 were sick. As the prison remains overcrowded with poor healthcare and ration for inmates, many more inmates are feared infected.

“TB is curable, but with insufficient medication, poor quality and quantity of food, spread and deaths from the infection will continue to rise,” said a source, who is familiar with the situation. “Bad things are happening.”

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Francis Enobore, said the outbreak was in January and only seven inmates had died. Mr Enobore said as a result of “intensive care and drugs supplied” the situation “has been brought under control” with only one case recorded in the month of April.

However, Mr Enobore’s claims are contradicted in substantial part by our findings based on disclosures by sources with direct knowledge, including those on the ground, photographs and documents reviewed. An official document shows several inmates were confirmed infected in April and are currently hospitalised.

PREMIUM TIMES reviewed photographs of inmates, who died after catching TB, and scores of others lying sick due to the ailment.

The photographs depict many sick inmates sleeping on mats on the bare floor in a ward without drips, a situation our sources said describes the abysmal state of healthcare service available to inmates.

A few others, lucky to have beds, are on drips, photographs show. Yet others on beds have no drips.

Controversial Feeding System
Inmates in Nigeria’s overcrowded prisons are poorly fed and treated, thereby making them susceptible to illnesses. Officially, N750, less than two dollars, is allocated to feed an inmate per day. Until 2021, it was N450. However, only a trifling sum is spent on inmates’ rations as a consequence of corruption, insiders said.

“Inmates are officially fed on N750 per day per head but contractors buy these contracts for about 30% from the prison authorities, meaning contractors receive about N525 per inmate for feeding,” a prison official told PREMIUM TIMES. “Contractors take out profits and generally hand over between N250-N300 per head to the officers in charge of Custodial Centers (Prison) for inmate feeding.”

“Officers in Charge then decide how well to feed inmates. Well-do-to inmates survive on self-feeding…they cook their own food or have their families supply food.

“Inmates in big custodial centres, especially in urban centres and in the southern part of the country are usually fed better because NGOs, churches, mosques, etc supply endless quantities of free food items.

“Inmates in rural areas and the Northern part of the country like Katsina’s old prison are underfed,” the source, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, added.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday announced the lift of suspension of direct flights from 17 countries including Nigeria.

Other affected countries are South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, United Republic of Comoros, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.

Also, the Saudi Government scrapped major COVID-19 restrictions except wearing of masks in the two holy Mosques in Makka and Medina as well as other places of worship in the kingdom.

The directive, issued by Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior, and confirmed by Saudi embassy in Nigeria, became effective from March 5, 2022.

According to the new policy, citizens visiting the Kingdom will no longer required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 quarantine or present PCR test result upon arrival in the holy land.

However, the new directive compel all new travelers to Saudi Arabia to secure an insurance that covers the costs of treatment from coronavirus infection.

Also, the Kingdom expressed commitment to complete the implementation of its national plan on immunisation, which would enable, among other principles, administration of booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine and applying procedures to verify health status of pilgrims at the point of entry any facilities, including events centres, airports, and public transportation.

The ministry declared that the new measures will be subjected to continuous evaluation by the health authoritries and in line with the country’s epidemiological situation.

Joe Muriuki, the first Kenyan to go public about HIV status has passed away.

His death was confirmed by Nephak, an organisation that supports people living with HIV and AIDS.

Dr Joe Muriuki had lived with the HIV virus for over 30 years.

For nearly 27 of those years, he resisted ARVs, adding that he maintained a stable CD4 count of over 400 through a healthy diet, keeping active and a positive attitude.

He announced to the world that he was HIV positive in 1987, becoming the first Kenyan to do so.

Muriuki was one of the first people to take Kemron- a HIV drug invented by Kenyan researchers.

Kemron was released in Kenya in 1991 and purported to be effective in treating AIDS but was later discovered to perform no better than a placebo.

Muriuki served at the HIV tribunal as a representative of people living with HIV and was a member of the regional task force that worked on the formulation of the East African HIV and Aids Management Act.

In 2017, he unsuccessfully applied to be nominated to the East African Legislative Assembly in order to represent people living with HIV.

Thomas Tuchel has tested positive for Covid-19...
The Chelsea head coach will now follow necessary self-isolation protocols and hopes to join up with the team in Abu Dhabi later next week.

The team fly out for the Club World Cup following this afternoon's FA Cup clash with Plymouth Argyle.

President @MBuhari launches the HIV Trust Fund today at the State House Abuja.

#AsoVillaToday

Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform together with the Ministry of Health and Social Services on Thursday confirmed the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain in wild birds occurring along the coastal line of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund in Erongo region.

The HPAI H5N1 is a zoonotic strain and can be transmitted to humans from infected birds, the two ministries said in a joint statement.

Over 200 dead wild birds, mainly the Cape Cormorants were observed since Jan. 13 on Bird Island near Walvis Bay and around the Salt Company in Swakopmund.

“The source of infection is believed to be the wild migratory birds and the HPAI H5N1 strain is being detected for the first time in the history of Namibia,” they added.

The two ministries are jointly conducting disease outbreak investigations and instituted has asked poultry farmers and the general public to immediately report any suspicion of sick or dead domestic or wild birds along the entire Namibian Coastal Line to the nearest State Veterinary Office or other relevant government officials.

“Movement of live domestic and wild birds from coastal areas of Erongo region is prohibited in exception of the imports and in-transit consignments originating from other countries,” the statement added.

Furthermore, farmers and the general public have been urged to cooperate, support and comply with the control measures put in place to prevent the further spread of the avian influenza infection.

Nigeria’s women have been ranked as the highest consumers of skin-whitening creams in Africa.

The data drawn by CNN ranked Nigeria as the top consumer of the creams.

The data explained that 75 per cent of women in Nigeria patronise whitening products.

This is followed closely by Senegal at 60 per cent, Mali at 50 per cent and Ghana at 30 per cent.

Whitening creams are cosmetic products that reduce the melanin or pigment in the skin to make it appear lighter.

The skin-whitening industry predominantly caters to women worldwide and people of colour in every region.

These creams contain ingredients that work to decrease body’s production of melanin.

Melanin is responsible for the pigment in the skin made by cells called melanocytes.

But many of these creams have been found to have dangerous side effects and are unapproved for use.

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency on Thursday announced that Nigeria has officially reported 395 cases of the Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

This is as the agency added that the CMPV2 outbreaks were caused by immunity gaps in children.

The PUNCH reports that in August 2020, Nigeria was certified Wild poliovirus free by the World Health Organization and allies following the fact that the country reported its last case of the Wild poliovirus in 2016.

The NPHCDA in a statement signed by its executive director, Faisal Shuaib further explained that the suspension of immunization programmes due to the COVID-19 pandemic has further created new immunity gaps which have led to new outbreaks.

The statement partly reads, “We currently have 395 cases of Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 (across 27 states and the FCT.

“Nigeria and the African region were certified Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free in 2020, following a rigorous verification and certification process by the African Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication which spanned three years of no detection of WPV. To date, there has been no case of WPV anywhere in the country.

“cMPV2 outbreaks are caused by immunity gaps in children due to several reasons, including low routine immunization coverage, and missing children during immunization campaigns. The suspension of several polio campaigns and other health programmes in 2020, as well as disruptions to routine immunization because of the COVID-19 pandemic, created further immunity gaps which led to new and wider outbreaks and further increased transmission of the circulating mutant poliovirus both globally and within Nigeria.

“The viruses thrive in areas with poor sanitation, open defecation, and inadequate access to clean drinking water. These have allowed the virus to be easily transmitted from one person to another through contaminated water and poor sewage disposal. Malnutrition occasioned by increasing poverty is also a predisposing factor in exposed children. These non-wild polioviruses which originated because of normal changes in the reproduction of viruses in the environment are not as virulent as WPV and are also being reported in many other countries.

The agency added that it is currently, “Working with our Donors and Development Partners, Nigeria has already acquired new tools and resources to ensure the outbreaks are contained through very robust outbreak responses using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine which has been shown to be effective in halting the spread of the cMPV2. All 36 States and FCT have completed at least one nOPV2 Outbreak Response.

“Several other rounds of the OBR, as well as other campaigns to improve the mucosal immunity of children aged 0-5 years old using Injectable Polio Vaccine, have also been planned for this year. Efforts are also being ramped up to increase routine immunization coverage beyond pre-COVID values.

The efforts of the Lagos State Government to avert the three-day warning strike declared by the nurses in the state proved abortive on Saturday as the angry workers walked out of the meeting called by the government towards addressing their concerns.

The nurses, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), had on Friday at a congress held at their secretariat at Agidingbi area of Ikeja, declared the three-day warning strike to begin on Monday, January 10, and end on Wednesday, January 12.

Their demands include resolution of what they termed “acute shortage of nurses and midwives, retention incentives to arrest the turnover rate, proper consolidation of CONHESS salary structure and improved working conditions.”

But a meeting at the Marina home of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday which was attended by some cabinet members in the state including the health commissioner and his counterpart at the ministry of establishments, Akin Abayomi and Ajibola Ponnle respectively; permanent secretary at the ministry of health and his counterpart at the health service commission, Olusegun Ogboye and Benjamin Eniayewu respectively; chief medical director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Adetokunbo Fabanwo, among others, failed to hold.

The nurses, who were led into the meeting by the association’s chairman, Olurotimi Awojide, and the secretary, Toba Odumosu, disagreed with the composition of the government’s representatives, insisting that they were only ready to meet with the governor.

According to reliable sources, who did not want to be mentioned for fear of sanctions, the union officers said they had held several meetings with the same officials including the head of service in the state, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, without a logical conclusion and that they were unsure if their matters were being raised before the governor.

They said it would only be appropriate to raise the matter directly with the governor, saying only a commitment made by the governor would be taken to their members for deliberation.

NANNM secretary speaks

Meanwhile, the union’s secretary, Mr Odumosu, in a terse response to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiry on Sunday, said it was true that the union refused to meet with the government officials for fear of “repetitions.”

He said: “Yes, we had to walk out of the meeting because the invitation we received was to meet the governor and not representatives. We had met those same officials several times in the past without resolution. So it is important that we hear from the horse’s mouth.”

He said though they met the governor on their way out of the venue, he apologised for not making himself available for the meeting.

“The governor apologised and he already scheduled another meeting with us for today (Sunday) by 5p.m. So we are patiently waiting for the outcome of the meeting,” Mr Odumosu said.

Govt confirms development
The chief press secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile, on Sunday, confirmed that he was aware that the meeting could not hold.

Mr Akosile, however, could neither confirm nor deny that another meeting was already scheduled with the union. He said he would confirm and revert to our reporter.

However, as of the time of filing this report, Mr Akosile had yet to revert on the matter.

Nurses’ demands
According to the association, the exodus of its members abroad for greener pastures is leaving untold pressure on those left in the system, saying the high turnover of workforce in the state is already becoming unbearable to the existing members.

Breaking down the statistics, the union wrote: “The increased foreign labour migration of nurses is no longer news. Understandably this has led to an acute shortage in the staffing of health facilities. According to our records, more than 496 nurses left the service of the Lagos State Health Service Commission alone between 2019 to 2021 and with less than 15 per cent due to statutory retirement. For context, the commission has only about 2,350 nurses. Over 200 nurses left the service of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital within the same period. Over 80 left the primary healthcare board within the last two years which has only about 700 nurses and midwives.

“It is clear that nurses do not find job satisfaction or fulfillment here. Nurses are quitting within weeks of taking appointments. And this mass exodus continues to further overburden and overstress the nurses still within the service. The government has a replacement-on-exit policy in place which has been rendered ineffective by the inability to easily find replacements. Nurses are critical assets. Out of the 500 vacancies approved for recruitment by the governor for the Health Service Commission recently, less than 300 applied. This is in a country with a 33.2 per cent unemployment rate. It is certain far much less would actually take the job. LASUTH experienced the same fate in its own recruitment effort and it would be the same for the Primary Healthcare Board when it starts its recruitment.

“The inherent danger is that while the government is finding it difficult to fill entry-level positions, more senior nurses are also leaving the service. A replacement-on-exit policy does not cater to the deficiency of experienced hands that result from this mass exodus. The effect on the quality of care can easily be inferred.”

Jürgen Klopp will miss Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea on Sunday after returning a suspected positive COVID-19 test result.

The Reds manager, who reported mild symptoms ahead of the fixture, is now isolating.

Assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders will therefore lead the team for the 4.30pm GMT kick-off at Stamford Bridge.

Testing of the entire first-team set-up has revealed no further positive cases within the playing squad in addition to the three confirmed by Klopp on Friday.

Three backroom staff members have returned suspected positive results, however.

I have tested positive for COVID-19

After a hide and seek period spanning 21 months (1yr 9 months) between COVID-19 and my humble self, the virus finally caught up with me during the dying days of 2021. After feeling unwell from 28th December, I decided to do a COVID-19 test yesterday morning.

The result came out positive this morning. Currently doing fine, with some sore throat, feverish feeling and mild running nose. Undertaking treatment and isolation at home.

I salute and wish all the medical personnel in the FCT and beyond who have been in the front line fighting this pandemic a happy and prosperous new year 2022. I pray for the quick recovery of all of us currently afflicted with COVID-19.

I have been informed by the experts that my case is mild because I took two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine. I appeal to all those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so.

Thanks and Happy New year to all.
MM BELLO.

Mikel Arteta will miss our match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day after testing positive for COVID-19.

Mikel is isolating in line with Government guidelines and we wish him well.

Aston Villa can confirm Head Coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.

A number of presidential aides have reportedly tested positive to Covid-19 and are now on self-isolation. 

Premium Times Saturday named those affected as the permanent secretary in the State House, Tijani Umar; the President’s Aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, and his senior special assistant (media and publicity), Garba Shehu. 

The online newspaper said their results were confirmed positive during the week. 

The report also claimed that the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, is also down with the virus.

None of them is thought to be seriously affected by the virus because they are fully vaccinated. 

The report quoted Shehu as saying: “I have no confirmation of the cases you mentioned, but yes I have been afflicted by the mild variant of the COVID-19. I felt okay from the beginning, maybe because one had received all three jabs, and right now, I feel 100 per cent. I just finished my hour-long running exercise.

“But the strange thing about this ailment is that it is the scientists, not you, that will say you are okay. Right now, I’m taking my prescriptions and isolating, and would go back for a test to ascertain if the virus is still here or it has left me. Thanks for your goodwill.”

Testing had recently been ramp up in the presidential villa in the wake of the Omicron variant to ensure the containment of the virus.

It is believed that the recent directive by the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to her staff to proceed on indefinite leave is not be unconnected with the need to check the possible spread of coronavirus around the first family. 

She had given a similar directive in the past as Covid-19 started to gain ground in the country. 

When Shehu was reached over the report Saturday, he said: “Have you read the Premium Times report? What I said in it is the truth to the best of my knowledge. What is true is that I know about myself that I’m self-isolating and taking my medication, but I know of no other case.”

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says Nigeria has recorded a total of 49 cases of the Omicron COVID variant as of December 21.

The agency disclosed this during a media briefing on Friday.

The Pfizer BioNtech vaccine was administered to the president by Suhayb Rafndadi, his personal physician, on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has said that the country is currently experiencing a fourth wave of coronavirus disease following the recent surge in cases and deaths.

This was made known in a statement issued and made available to journalists on Monday night by the Director-General of the agency, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.

He said the development was sequel to the 500 per cent increase in the number of cases being recorded in the past two weeks.

NCDC also warned Nigerians against violating the COVID-19 guidelines during the yuletide, stressing that everyone needs to play their part in ensuring that all citizens including the vulnerable ones are protected against the disease.

The statement read, “Nigeria has recorded a 500% increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks across the country caused by the Delta and Omicron variants. As of 19th December 2021, a total of 223,887 cases and 2985 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The country is now in a fourth COVID-19 wave. The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as NCDC and its partners, are therefore intensifying risk communication efforts to remind Nigerians of the risk we face and need to take collective responsibility to reduce transmission of the virus.

“The response to COVID-19 requires a whole-of-society approach. Therefore, individuals, families and institutions also need to play their part in protecting each other by ensuring adherence to COVID-19 public health and social measures. Critically, Nigerians are urged to adhere to recommended measures by NCDC and other public health authorities, as they celebrate Christmas and New Year.”

A Nigerian has been isolated in Manila, the Philippines for testing positive for Omicron COVID-19 variant, after he landed via Oman.

The Nigerian was isolated along with a Filipino, who also tested positive for Omicron upon arrival from Japan on 1 December.

The two cases were the first cases detected in The Philippines.

The Nigerian arrived in Manila from his country via Oman Air on Nov. 30.

Both travellers tested positive for the coronavirus after arrival and the results of additional tests showed on Tuesday that they were infected by the omicron strain, the department said.

The two are confined in a government-run isolation facility without any symptoms, the health department said, adding it was checking whether any of their fellow passengers in their flights to the Philippines had been infected too.

Health officials renewed their call for Filipinos to wear protective masks properly, wash and disinfect their hands frequently and stay safely away from people and big crowds.

“We continue to remind the public not to let their guard down, to religiously observe minimum public health standards and call upon all those unvaccinated to get their jabs as soon as possible,” presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles told a televised news conference.

The Philippines imposed one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in the world after the pandemic hit in March last year, causing its economy to plummet by 9.5% last year in the country´s worst recession since World War II.

Health officials reported just 237 confirmed infections with 100 deaths Wednesday.

Antonio Conte has confirmed eight players of Tottenham's first-team squad and five staff members have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Spurs head coach added the number is growing every day and said it is "a serious problem".

Conte said: "The situation makes me very upset because the situation is serious. It's contagious and there is a big infection.

"Now we are a bit scared because tomorrow we don't know what will happen."

Tottenham host Rennes on Thursday before a scheduled visit to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday

Pfizer and BioNTech say initial lab studies show a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine neutralizes the omicron variant.

Preliminary laboratory studies demonstrate that three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine neutralize the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage) while two doses show significantly reduced neutralization titers

Data indicate that a third dose of BNT162b2 increases the neutralizing antibody titers by 25-fold compared to two doses against the Omicron variant; titers after the booster dose are comparable to titers observed after two doses against the wild-type virus which are associated with high levels of protection

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed three more cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, the agency stated that the fresh Omicron cases were detected in persons with recent travel history to South Africa.

“The NCDC through the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) continues to coordinate genomic surveillance activities across the country to sequence all positive COVID-19 samples from international travellers arriving in Nigeria. This includes sequencing of positive samples from international travellers from October 2021 to date.

“The Delta variant remains the dominant variant and so far, we have not seen the replacement of this variant by the new Omicron variant as observed elsewhere. The Omicron variant is a source of global concern because of its increased risk of transmissibility and its potential to escape protective immune responses induced by natural infection and/or vaccination.

“Taken together, and if true, the Omicron variant can significantly change the current global COVID-19 epidemiology. There is currently no evidence of generalised or community transmission of this variant in Nigeria. However, the NCDC will continue coordinating and implementing genomic surveillance activities incountry to keep Nigerians reliably informed about existing variants, the Omicron and indeed other variants that may arise based on national data and emerging global evidence,” NCDC Director General, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant detected in Nigeria to six.

The NCDC had on 1st December 2021 announced the detection of three cases.

The Federal Government has approved booster shots of the COVID vaccine for Nigerians who are fully vaccinated.

This was disclosed on Friday in a statement by Mohammad Ohitoto, spokesman for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

According to the statement, eligible Nigerians are to visit health centres and mass vaccination sites from December 10 to get their booster dose.

The Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS has said 4,531 female sex workers have undergone HIV/AIDS testing and counselling in the state.

The agency also said it has been going to correctional facilities in the state to test inmates for HIV and counsel them on the prevention of the disease.

The Executive Secretary of OGSACA, Kehinde Fatungase, said this on Monday at a briefing to mark the 2021 World AIDS Day in Abeokuta.

Fatungase said, “25,554 out of 38,093 estimated numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state are currently receiving treatment while 25,136 are on antiretroviral therapy. 4,531 female sex workers have undergone HIV/AIDS testing and counselling in the state.”

He noted that the state was embarking on aggressive community testing, counselling and campaign to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS by 95 per cent by 2030.

Fatungase, however, attributed low level of literacy, poverty, drug abuse and gender-based violence, as factors contributing to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state.

The Executive Secretary of OGSACA who spoke on the theme of the event, ‘End Inequalities, End Pandemic, End AIDS,’ disclosed that the anti-stigma bill for people living with HIV/AIDS when passed into law would not only protect the rights of HIV/AIDS patients but also reduce discrimination against them.

He said it was unfortunate that the stigmatisation against people living with HIV/AIDS had made the campaign against the spread of the disease difficult.

“Division, disparity and disregard for human rights are among the failures that allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crisis.

“The medicine, information and prevention tools are simply not reaching the people who need them most. We need a new approach that reduces the inequalities that drive the AIDS epidemic and puts people at the centre, prioritising human rights, respect and dignity,” Fatungase said.

The South-West Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Ronke Adeoye disclosed that Ogun State had 1.6 per cent, the highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS among the states in the region.

Canadian health authorities have restricted travel to 10 countries to prevent the spread of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus. Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi have been added to the list as of today.

The Canadian government announced this afternoon that several more countries have been added to the list of those currently subject to stricter border measures.

The countries added to the list are Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi. As of today, foreign nationals who have travelled to these countries over the last 14 days will be forbidden from entering Canada. They join a list of seven southern African countries that had restrictive measures imposed on them this past Friday.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents that have been in any of these ten countries over the last 14 days will need to receive a negative PCR test before being allowed to travel to Canada. Upon arriving to Canada, they will face more testing and quarantine measures.

irrespective of their Canadian immigration and vaccination status, will need to undergo testing at the airport in which they land in Canada. They will need to self isolate until a negative test has been confirmed. This is in addition to the PCR tests that they need to get within 72 hours of travel to Canada.

These new measures also apply to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, even those that are fully vaccinated. Canadian government ministers said during this afternoon’s press conference they will give further consideration to potentially adding these requirement to travellers entering Canada from the U.S. by air and/or land.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the detection of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.

According to a statement by Ifedayo Adetifa, the NCDC director-general, the variant was detected in two Nigerians who arrived in the country last week.

There are two confirmed cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in Ottawa, the Ontario government announced Sunday.

"Today, the province of Ontario has confirmed two cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in Ottawa, both of which were reported in individuals with recent travel from Nigeria. Ottawa Public Health is conducting case and contact management and the patients are in isolation," the statement said.

These are the first cases of the omicron variant confirmed in Canada, coming just days after the country implemented new travel restrictions on foreign nationals who had visited several countries in southern Africa over the preceding two weeks.

Those travel restrictions went into effect on Friday. The omicron variant was first identified by South African researchers and has provoked global concern.

Little is known about the new variant, dubbed omicron by the World Health Organization and labelled as a variant of concern. It is being linked to a rapid rise of cases in a South African province.

It is not known at this time whether the variant is more transmissible, or more dangerous to the health of those who catch it, than other coronavirus variants.

"The best defence against the omicron variant is stopping it at our border. In addition to the measures recently announced, we continue to urge the federal government to take the necessary steps to mandate point-of-arrival testing for all travellers irrespective of where they're coming from to further protect against the spread of this new variant," said the statement from Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott and Dr. Kieran Moore, the province's chief medical officer of health.

The provincial government urged residents to get vaccinated, including with booster doses, and to continue following public health guidance.

"Ontario is prepared and ready to respond to this new variant."

More confirmed cases likely: health minister

In a statement released Sunday, federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the confirmation of two omicron cases is a signal that the country's monitoring system is working but to expect more cases of the variant.

"As the monitoring and testing continues with provinces and territories, it is expected that other cases of this variant will be found in Canada," Duclos said.

The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529.

They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.

WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols

The designation of Variant of Concern means:
� countries should share genome sequences
� report initial cases/clusters to WHO
� perform field investigations & lab assessments to understand impacts, epidemiology, severity, effectiveness of public health & social measures

This new #COVID19 Variant of Concern Omicron underscores the need to accelerate #VaccinEquity and get COVID-19 vaccines to health workers, older people and others at risk who still have not received their first and second doses.

We should work together to reduce the circulation of #COVID19:
�Get vaccinated if you have access
� Wear a mask
↔️ Keep physical distance
� Ventilate spaces
�� Good hand & respiratory hygiene

#InThisTogether

Britain on Thursday said it would ban travel from six southern African countries, after South Africa detected a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations.
"The early indication we have of this variant is it may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective against it," Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.

Javid said the new variant, which South Africa attributed to a surge in cases and had also been detected in travellers from the country in Botswana and Hong Kong, had not been found so far in Britain.

But he said British scientists were "deeply concerned" and as a precaution a decision had been to suspend all flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana from 1200 GMT on Friday.

"We will be requiring anyone that arrives from those countries from 4:00 am on Sunday to quarantine in hotels," he added.

"If anyone arrives before then they should self-isolate at home and take a PCR test on day two and day eight.

"And if anyone has arrived from any of those countries over the last 10 days, we would ask them to take PCR tests."

Britain has been among the hardest hit by Covid-19, with some 144,000 deaths since the start of the outbreak early last year.

Positive cases remain stubbornly high -- more than 47,000 were recorded in a 24-hour period to Thursday -- but more than 80 per cent of people aged 12 and over have been double-jabbed with a vaccine.

Nearly 29 per cent have received a third booster dose, as part of a government drive to ease pressure on hard-pressed health services during the winter months, when other seasonal respiratory infections are high.

Britain's government was widely criticised for its travel and quarantine policy earlier in the pandemic, when it kept its borders open to foreign travellers even as infection rates spiralled.

Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Aba, has shut down operations at the state’s apex health institution.

The action followed expiration of warning strike issued by JAC to Abia Government via a letter dated Oct. 20, and acknowledged by the government.

Mr Samuel Kalu, the Chairman of JAC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Aba, that organised labour in ABSUTH resolved to embark on the strike as government did not meet their demands.

The letter made available to NAN was signed by representatives of the unions.

The unions are: Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Universities’ Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).

The letter states inter alia: “We the Joint Unions of ABSUTH under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) wish to inform the government that we have exhausted our patience and can no longer watch our members and their families die in penury due to non-payment of 22 months salary arrears.

“This has been made known to the government through previous notices especially the notice of April 15, 2021 and the subsequent suspension on April 16, 2021.

“Equally, we wish to inform the government that for the past seven years, no pensioner in ABSUTH had been paid a dime and this cannot be allowed to continue.

“Consequently, the JAC gives the government seven days ultimatum to address these grievances or face an indefinite strike action from midnight of Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, to press home our demands.”

Kalu told NAN that the unions could no longer endure the treatment the state government was meting out to them.

“We waited until now to announce this because we had been hoping that after everything, Abia Government will change its minds and obey an earlier agreement we entered to be paying us consistently and gradually.

“But the state government still remained adamant and reneged on its own promise.

“We waited to this time because of the weekend and the sit-at-home in the South East and now, it is official that ABSUTH workers have resumed an indefinite strike because government had not responded as expected.

“We have told them that if they are considerate to pay us five months arrears at once, we will consider the patients that need the services of the hospital and return but if not, the strike continues,” he said.

Parliamentarians in Benin have voted to legalise abortion in the West African country, where it was already authorised under very restricted conditions.

Under the new law, passed late on Wednesday, women can terminate a pregnancy within the first three months if it is likely to “aggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child’s interest”.

Previously, abortion was authorised if pursing the pregnancy “threatened the life of the mother”, was “the result of a rape or incest” or when “the unborn child has a particularly severe affection”.

After a heated debate in the parliament, with some legislators strongly opposed to legalising abortion further, the amendment finally passed.

Several countries in Africa have total bans on abortion, including Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

“In Benin, nearly 200 women die each year as the result of abortion complications,” said Minister of Health Benjamin Hounkpatin in a statement on Thursday.

“This measure will be a relief for many women who face undesired pregnancies, and are forced to put their lives in danger with botched abortions,” he added.

The minister said that complications from abortions were the cause of 20 percent of maternal deaths in the country.

“It is because of this public health threat that the government has taken its responsibilities by submitting a text that lawmakers have passed,” said Hounkpatin.

He said the new measure’s “unique goal” was to “save human lives” and that “voluntary termination of pregnancies will remain a last resort”.

The influential Episcopal Conference of Benin said it was “highly preoccupied by the proposed law to legalise abortions”.

“Abortion not only destroys the life of the foetus but also that of the mother, in many aspects,” the religious group said in a statement.

Abortion laws vary wildly around the world, but only a minority of countries have outright bans.

Women from Europe, North America and Oceania benefit from the most liberal legislation, in some cases acquired only recently.

New Zealand, for example, only decriminalised abortion in March 2020. Up to then, it was punishable with a 14-year prison term.

Julian Nagelsmann has tested positive for Coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated. He will fly back to Munich separately from the team in a medical plane and isolate back there.

×Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus honoured the late Henrietta Lacks with a WHO Director-General’s award, recognizing the world-changing legacy of this Black American woman who died of cervical cancer, 70 years ago, on 4 October, 1951.

While she sought treatment, researchers took biopsies from Mrs Lacks’ body without her knowledge or consent. Her cells became the first “immortal” cell line, and have allowed for incalculable scientific breakthroughs such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the polio vaccine, drugs for HIV and cancers, and most recently, critical COVID-19 research.

Shockingly, the global scientific community once hid Henrietta Lacks’ race and her real story, a historic wrong that today’s recognition seeks to heal.

“In honouring Henrietta Lacks, WHO acknowledges the importance of reckoning with past scientific injustices, and advancing racial equity in health and science,” said Dr Tedros. “It’s also an opportunity to recognize women - particularly women of colour - who have made incredible but often unseen contributions to medical science.”

The award was received at the WHO office in Geneva by Lawrence Lacks, Mrs. Lacks’ 87-year-old son. He is one of the last living relatives who personally knew her. Mr. Lacks was accompanied by several of Henrietta Lacks’ grandchildren, great-grand children, and other family members.

“We are moved to receive this historic recognition of my mother, Henrietta Lacks – honouring who she was as a remarkable woman and the lasting impact of her HeLa cells. My mother’s contributions, once hidden, are now being rightfully honored for their global impact,” said Lawrence Lacks, Sr., Henrietta Lacks’ eldest son. “My mother was a pioneer in life, giving back to her community, helping others live a better life and caring for others. In death she continues to help the world. Her legacy lives on in us and we thank you for saying her name – Henrietta Lacks.”

An Iconic Story of Inequity, Injustice and Disparities in Health with Contemporary Relevance

Today, women of colour continue to be disproportionately affected by cervical cancer, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the many faultlines where health inequities persist among marginalized communities around the world. Studies in various countries consistently document that Black women are dying of cervical cancer at several times the rate of white women, while 19 of the 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer burdens are in Africa.

The family’s discussions with WHO especially focused on the Organization’s ambitious campaign to eliminate cervical cancer. The past year, which marked the 100th anniversary of Henrietta Lacks’ birth, coincides with the inaugural year of WHO’s Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. This historic campaign marks the first time ever that all WHO Member States have collectively resolved to eliminate a cancer.

The family also joins WHO in advocating for equity in access to the HPV vaccine, which protects against a range of cancers, including cervical cancer. Despite having been prequalified by WHO over 12 years ago, supply constraints and high prices still prevent adequate doses from reaching girls in low-and-middle income countries.

As of 2020, less than 25% of low-income countries and less than 30% of lower-middle-income countries had access to the HPV vaccine through their national immunization programmes, compared with more than 85% of high-income countries.

“It is unacceptable that access to the lifesaving HPV vaccine can be shaped by your race, ethnicity or where you happen to be born,” said Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Priorities and Special Advisor to the Director General. “The HPV vaccine was developed using Henrietta Lacks’ cells. Although the cells were taken without her consent and without her knowledge, she has left behind a legacy that could potentially save millions of lives. We owe it to her and her family to achieve equitable access to this groundbreaking vaccine.”

Henrietta Lacks’ Remarkable Contribution to Medicine
As a young mother, Henrietta Lacks and her husband were raising five children near Baltimore when she fell ill. She went to Johns Hopkins after experiencing extensive vaginal bleeding and was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite treatment, it cut her life short on October 4, 1951. She was only 31 years old.

During treatment, researchers took samples of her tumour. That “HeLa” cell line became a scientific breakthrough: the first immortal line of human cells to divide indefinitely in a laboratory. The cells were mass produced, for profit, without recognition to her family. Over 50,000,000 metric tonnes of HeLa cells have been distributed around the world, the subjects of over 75,000 studies.

In addition to the HPV vaccine, HeLa cells allowed for development of the polio vaccine; drugs for HIV/AIDS, haemophilia, leukaemia, and Parkinson’s disease; breakthroughs in reproductive health, including in vitro fertilization; research on chromosomal conditions, cancer, gene mapping, and precision medicine; and are used in studies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the presentation of the award, the family and WHO will proceed to the shores of Lake Geneva, to watch the city’s iconic Jet d’Eau illuminate in the colour teal – the colour for cervical cancer awareness – in honour of Henrietta Lacks’ legacy and in appreciation of the family’s support for the global campaign to eliminate the disease. It is the first of several world monuments that will illuminate in teal between now and November 17th, marking the first anniversary of the launch of the global elimination campaign.

Quotes from other participants
“Through HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative, my family stands in solidarity with WHO and our sisters around the world to ensure that no other wife, mother or sister dies needlessly from cervical cancer,” said Victoria Baptiste, Henrietta Lacks’ great granddaughter. “As a registered nurse, I am proud to also be here today to honour my great grandmother’s legacy by advocating to ensure equitable access to the breakthroughs that her HeLa cells advanced such as the HPV vaccine. It is only fitting that as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Henrietta Lacks’ HeLa cells and her untimely passing, we build upon her legacy by ensuring equitable access to advances in cancer prevention and treatment for all people.”

“Though her life was cut short, Henrietta Lacks’ contributions to medicine have led to remarkable scientific breakthroughs, saving countless lives and bringing us closer to eliminating cervical cancer,” said Dr Senait Fisseha, Co-Chair of the Director-General’s expert advisory group on cervical cancer elimination. “Her story is also a clear example of how Black women have long been overlooked in healthcare and still are today. I applaud the WHO for recognizing her, a vital step in acknowledging the incredible impact she’s had on science and honouring her legacy in advancing health justice for people around the world.”

“The fight to eliminate cervical cancer is part of the larger fight for human rights,” said Dr Groesbeck Parham, who participated in the civil rights movement as a teenager in Birmingham, Alabama, and is now Clinical Expert for WHO’s cervical cancer elimination initiative and Co-Chair of the Director-General’s expert advisory group. “Through her immortal cells, Mrs. Henrietta Lacks speaks to us, also calling our attention to the millions of young women and mothers in low-income countries who still continue to die from cervical cancer because they cannot access and afford to purchase the life-saving medicines, technologies and medical procedures that are readily available in high-income countries. The questions being raised by the spirit and legacy of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks are: ‘why does this situation exist’, ‘what are the solutions’, and ‘when are you going to implement them.’”