 Health › COVID-19 Update For April 22 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:52pm On Apr 22, 2021 |
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| Politics › Ganduje To Establish Hermaphrodite Centre In Kano by References(op): 1:24pm On Apr 22, 2021 |
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that his administration will establish a hermaphrodite centre for people with intersex complications in the state.
He said the project will be executed in partnership with the TETFund Centre of Excellence of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).
Ganduje, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, on Thursday, made the disclosure while receiving seven people from the UDUS Centre, who were sponsored by the state and underwent successful surgical operations.
They were received at a special session with all members of the state Executive Council in attendance at Kano Government House on Wednesday.
The governor said, “We are now starting to establish a similar centre in Kano, in partnership with the Centre of Excellence, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
“We are institutionalising the process and intervention. Our concern is always the health and happiness of our people.
“Kano state government was worried when we got information that there was one person with that intersex problem. We also learned that the person needed assistance for a surgical operation.
“We quickly intervened and took the patient to Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
“We then ordered for search for other similar cases in the state.
“We got six other cases, whom we also sent to UDUS, Centre of Excellence. Alhamdulillah all of them were successfully operated,” Ganduje added.
He further revealed that the state ordered for the search of more similar cases in the state, assuring that the state would sponsor their operations in the same centre, Sokoto.
All the seven people, according to him, were operated free of charge as the state had paid for all their bills.
The governor argued that places with a higher population may likely be more prone to such health issues, hence, Kano as the most populous state in the country has every tendency to have more of such people.
During his presentation remarks, Professor Nasiru Yawuri, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UDUS, commended the state government and the foresight of the governor for sponsoring seven people for the surgical operation. https://dailytrust.com/ganduje-to-establish-hemoprodite-centre-in-kano |
| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 21 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:33pm On Apr 21, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 20 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:30pm On Apr 20, 2021 |
120 New COVID-19 Cases, 22 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 20120 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Enugu-53
Lagos-22
Rivers-18
Ogun-8
FCT-7
Abia-6
Kano-5
Bauchi-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1384634337681870849?s=19Highlights
On the 20th of April 2021, 120 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 164423 cases have been confirmed, 154406 cases have been discharged and 2061 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 120 new cases are reported from 8 states- Enugu (53), Lagos (22), Rivers (18), Ogun ( , FCT (7), Abia(6), Kano (5) and Bauchi (1).
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/Today's report includes data from Enugu recorded between the 14th and 19th of April, 2021.
A breakdown of cases by state via https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1384634352181649414?s=19April 19 https://www.nairaland.com/6514492/covid-19-update-april-19-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 19 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 12:14am On Apr 20, 2021 |
70 New COVID-19 Cases, 52 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 1970 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-27
Kaduna-16
Ondo-16
Yobe-6
Bauchi-5 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1384285775466962944Highlights
On the 19th of April 2021, 70 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 164303 cases have been confirmed, 154384 cases have been discharged and 2061 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 70 new cases are reported from 5 states- Lagos (27), Kaduna (16), Ondo (16), Yobe (6), and Bauchi (5)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/April 18 https://www.nairaland.com/6512926/covid-19-update-april-18-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 18 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:50pm On Apr 18, 2021 |
26 New COVID-19 Cases, 7 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 1826 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Ebonyi-10
Lagos-9
FCT-2
Kano-2
Osun-2
Oyo-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1383915597575057410?s=19Highlights
On the 18th of April 2021, 26 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 164233 cases have been confirmed, 154332 cases have been discharged and 2061 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 26 new cases are reported from 6 states- Ebonyi (10), Lagos (9), FCT (2), Kano (2), Osun (2), and Oyo (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/A breakdown of cases by state can be found via https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1383915715317563394?s=19April 17 https://www.nairaland.com/6511696/covid-19-update-april-17-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 17 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 12:11am On Apr 18, 2021 |
60 New COVID-19 Cases, 21 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 1760 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-22
Rivers-15
Bayelsa-7
Kaduna-5
Ogun-4
Akwa Ibom-3
Osun-2
Kano-1
Ebonyi-1
164,207 confirmed
154,325 discharged
2,061 deaths https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1383558853984280581Highlights
On the 17th of April 2021, 60 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
The 60 new cases are reported from 9 states- Lagos (22), Rivers (15), Bayelsa (7), Kaduna (5), Ogun (4), Akwa Ibom (3), Osun (2), Kano (1) and Ebonyi (1)
Till date, 164207 cases have been confirmed, 154325 cases have been discharged and 2061 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/April 16 https://www.nairaland.com/6510244/covid-19-update-april-16-2021 
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| Health › Akeredolu: 124,817 Pregnant Women Living With HIV In Ondo by References(op): 2:37am On Apr 16, 2021 |
Ondo Government, yesterday, said no fewer than 124,817 pregnant women have tested positive for HIV between 2017 till date in the state.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu disclosed this at the launch of HIV Treatment Surge campaign in the state organized by APIN Public Health Initiatives in collaboration with CDC Nigeria and United States government. He said out of the infected pregnant women, 926 have accessed elimination of Mother-To-Child-Transmission of the disease..
He expressed the readiness of his administration to rid the state of HIV/AIDS.
The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Oladunni Odu said the launch of HIV treatment surge campaign was another first of its kind in the state.
The governor also disclosed that almost two million condom caplets had been distributed in the state since 2017 till date.
“Our government places premium on improved living standard of our people, where they live, work and play. It is our avowed determination to put a stop to all forms of preventable morbidity and mortality.
“The HIV pandemic requires us to open our eyes and not dismiss HIV infection as someone else issue. It requires us to open our arms to people living with HIV and give them our solidarity and support. I call on all international partners, Civil Society Organizations, religious bodies and other stakeholders to continue to join hands with government in order to achieve the ultimate goal.
“As a people-oriented government, we shall continue to provide the enabling social and policy environment to facilitate HIV/AIDS intervention programmes,” he added.
U.S Consul General in Nigeria, Claire Pierangelo said the programme is helping to identify people living with HIV and place those identified on free life-saving treatment.
Pierangelo urged the Ondo State government to eliminate all fees charged by healthcare facilities for nonessential services. https://www.sunnewsonline.com/124817-pregnant-women-living-with-hiv-in-ondo-akeredolu/
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 15 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:41pm On Apr 15, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 14 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:45pm On Apr 14, 2021 |
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| Health › Ortom Reacts As Rate Of HIV Drops From 12.9 To 4.7 Percent In Benue by References(op): 2:48pm On Apr 14, 2021 |
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has expressed delight over the sharp drop in the rate of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS, from 12.9 to 4.7 percent in Benue State.
Ortom expressed his joy when the zonal Coordinator, North Central Zone of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Mr Lawrence Kwaghga paid him a courtesy call at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
The Governor, after being informed of the development, pledged his administration’s support for the agency to achieve more of its objectives.
Governor Ortom pledged improved funding for the agency in the state, even as he acknowledged the support of donor agencies and development partners to the fight against the spread of the deadly scourge.
Earlier, while acknowledging the support of the Benue State government to the fight against the spread of the scourge, Mr Kwaghgba noted that the desire of NACA and the world in general was to end the spread of HIV-AIDS by 2030.
He solicited revival of local offices of the agency for improved service delivery, pointing out that government support in terms of funding at this point was imperative.
The coordinator stressed that there was need for increased budgetary allocation to the state and zonal offices of NACA to be able to achieve set goals. https://dailypost.ng/2021/04/14/ortom-reacts-as-rate-of-hiv-drops-from-12-9-to-4-7-percent-in-benue/?amp&__twitter_impression=true
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 13 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:47pm On Apr 13, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 12 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:46pm On Apr 12, 2021 |
44 New COVID-19 Cases, 70 Discharged And 1 Death On April 1244 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Enugu-22
Lagos-15
FCT-4
Osun-2
Kaduna-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1381736872863498248?s=19Highlights
On the 12th of April 2021, 44 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 163837 cases have been confirmed, 154177 cases have been discharged and 2061 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 44 new cases are reported from 5 states- Enugu (22), Lagos (15), FCT (4), Osun (2), and Kaduna (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/Our discharges today includes 40 community recoveries in Enugu State and 4 community recoveries in FCT managed in line with guidelines. https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1381736966450991109?s=19April 11 https://www.nairaland.com/6502230/covid-19-update-april-11-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 10 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:46pm On Apr 10, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 9 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:57pm On Apr 09, 2021 |
71 New COVID-19 Cases, 68 Discharged And 1 Death On April 971 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-24
Yobe-13
Rivers-9
Akwa Ibom-6
FCT-6
Kano-6
Osun-3
Delta-2
Jigawa-1
Plateau-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1380649712701861888?s=19Highlights
On the 9th of April 2021, 71 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 163652 cases have been confirmed, 154073 cases have been discharged and 2059 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 71 new cases are reported from 10 states- Lagos (24), Yobe (13), Rivers (9), Akwa Ibom (6), FCT (6), Kano (6), Osun (3), Delta (2), Jigawa (1) and Plateau (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/A breakdown of cases by state can be found via https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1380649771967385610?s=19April 8 https://www.nairaland.com/6498055/covid-19-update-april-8-2021 
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| Politics › LASG Eases Restriction On Event Centres by References(op): 7:24pm On Apr 09, 2021 |
#COVID19 protocols: LASG eases restriction on event centres.
Occupancy limit at any event must not exceed 50% of the maximum design capacity of the hall, wherein Occupancy Limit stickers provided by the @safety_lasg must be boldly pasted at the entrance of the event hall.
Maximum allowable capacity for Event Centers irrespective of occupancy limit is 500 people.
Deep cleaning must be carried out before and after every event.
Physical distancing shall be maintained between seated guests and a maximum number of seated guests should be 6 (six) people on a table of 10 (ten)persons.
Event duration should not exceed a maximum period of 6-hours.
All guests and service providers at the facility must wear a nose mask and make use of hand sanitizers.
All guests and service providers must endeavor to wash their hands before entering the venue or in the alternative use hand sanitizers.
Temp checks must be taken at all entry points into a facility.
Guests and service providers with temp (above 37.5) are to be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on ground. https://twitter.com/gboyegaakosile/status/1380584428150398986?s=19Mynd44 Mukina2 Lalasticlala |
| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 8 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:47pm On Apr 08, 2021 |
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| Health › The 10 Demands By Striking Doctors — And ‘FGs Responses So Far’ by References(op): 11:43am On Apr 08, 2021 |
The leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) met on Wednesday and vowed to continue their nationwide strike until the federal government meets all their demands.
One week after the industrial action began, it has grounded activities in hospitals across the country but the resident doctors say, “a luta continua; vitória é certa“, which means, “the struggle continues; victory is certain”.
So, what is the bone of contention?
The communique issued after their meeting listed all the ten demands that prompted the strike and reappraised the federal government’s response for each of them.
TheCable has contacted the Federal Ministry of Health to confirm the doctors’ claims.
Here is the full list of the demands as shared in the communique issued by Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, NARD president (pictured above):
1. Immediate Payment of all salaries owed to all house officers including march salaries (regardless of quota system) before the end of business on the 31st of March 2021.
As of today, although payment has been made to some of them, the payment is marred with so many irregularities. Most of them are still not paid.
2. Immediate payment of all salary arrears including march salaries for our members in all federal (GIFMIS platform) and state tertiary health institutions across the country.
None of these Doctors who have worked for over four months has been paid. Our members in states like ABSUTH, IMSUTH and UNIMEDTH are still been owed twenty, five and four months salaries respectively.
3. Upward review of the current hazard allowance to 50% of consolidated basic salaries of all health workers and payment of the outstanding COVID-19 inducement allowance.
The hazard allowances have remained five thousand naira (5000) for over thirty (30) years. For the Honourable Minister of Labour & Employment (HMOL&E) to feign ignorance of this on national television today leaves a lot to be desired. This is an all-time low coming from someone who has been in the Nigeria senate where monthly hardship allowance for senators is N1,242,122.70. Demanding for 5 weeks for its review despite the ongoing strike is really shameful. A sincere government should immediately call all stakeholders together to address this issue once and for all.
4. Payment of death in service insurance for all health workers who died as a result of COVID-19 infection or other infectious diseases in the country.
This legitimate demand has been left unattended to.
5. Payment of Salary shortfalls of 2014, 2015 and 2016 to our members in all federal institutions including state-owned institutions as earlier agreed with NARD.
Nothing has been done in this regard.
6. Universal domestication/implementation of the 2017 MRTA by all federal government and state-owned training institutions to ensure proper funding of residency training in the country as stipulated by the Act.
Nothing has been done about this especially by the state governments.
7. Abolishment of the exorbitant bench fees being paid by our members on outside postings in all training institutions across the country with immediate effect.
The only positive result from the conciliatory meeting with the HMoLE, however no circular yet to back the abolishment.
8. Immediate payment of 2019, the balance of 2020 and 2021 medical residency training funds (MRTF) to our members including those under state government employ.
Despite our constant engagement with the FMOH on this issue, it was shocking to us that it took the conciliatory meeting by the HMoLE for the FMOH to be instructed to go and check if funding for residency training was captured in the 2021 budget. This is pitiful as well as awful.
9. Immediate review of the Act regulating Postgraduate Medical Training in Nigeria in line with international best practices to remove the unnecessary rigors in residency training in Nigeria, one of the factors attributed to brain drain in the health sector.
Nothing also has been done here.
10. The reintroduction of medical super salary structure and specialist allowance for all Doctors as already approved for some other health workers.
No mention was made about this very germane demand of our members.
This further buttresses the insincerity amongst government officials which has stalled meaningful negotiations in the wake of the current impasse. https://www.thecable.ng/in-full-the-10-demands-by-striking-doctors-and-fgs-responses-so-far
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 7 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:57pm On Apr 07, 2021 |
110 New COVID-19 Cases, 158 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 7110 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-24
Yobe-24
FCT-16
Bayelsa-10
Rivers-10
Kaduna-10
Nasarawa-5
Akwa Ibom-4
Bauchi-3
Edo-3
Plateau-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1379930199823945729?s=19Highlights
On the 7th of April 2021, 110 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 163498 cases have been confirmed, 153788 cases have been discharged and 2058 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 110 new cases are reported from 11 states- Lagos(24), Yobe (24), FCT (16),Bayelsa (10), Rivers (10), Kaduna (10),Nasarawa (5), Akwa Ibom (4), Bauchi (3), Edo (3),and Plateau(1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/report/A breakdown of cases by state can be found via https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1379930723465977862?s=19April 6 https://www.nairaland.com/6494914/covid-19-update-april-6-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 5 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 12:17am On Apr 06, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 4 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 12:00am On Apr 05, 2021 |
82 New COVID-19 Cases, 145 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 4On the 4th of April 2021, 82 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.
Till date, 163,195 cases have been confirmed, 151,998 cases have been discharged and 2,058 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The 82 new cases are reported from 8 states- Lagos (33), Yobe (15), Abia (11), Rivers (10), Imo (5), Akwa Ibom (4), Katsina (2), and Osun (2).
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/April 3 https://www.nairaland.com/6490548/covid-19-update-april-3-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 3 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:42pm On Apr 03, 2021 |
50 New COVID-19 Cases, 18 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 350 new confirmed cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-27
Plateau-11
Bayelsa-7
Gombe-3
Nasarawa-1
Ekiti-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1378474456528601088?s=19Highlights
On the 3rd of April 2021, 50 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.
Till date, 163,113 cases have been confirmed, 151,853 cases have been discharged and 2,058 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The 50 new cases are reported from 6 states- Lagos(27), Plateau (11), Bayelsa (7), Gombe (3), Nasarawa (1) and Ekiti (1).
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/A breakdown of cases by state can be found via: https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1378474619968045057?s=19April 2 https://www.nairaland.com/6489254/covid-19-update-april-2-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 2 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:59pm On Apr 02, 2021 |
66 New COVID-19 Cases, 127 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 266 new confirmed cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Enugu-18
Lagos-17
Kaduna-10
Rivers-8
Akwa Ibom-6
Kano-2
Osun-2
Jigawa-1
Plateau -1
FCT-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1378114591746576385?s=19Highlights
On the 2nd of April 2021, 66 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.
Till date, 163,063 cases have been confirmed, 151,835 cases have been discharged and 2,058 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The 66 new cases are reported from 10 states- Enugu (18), Lagos(17), Kaduna (10), Rivers (, Akwa Ibom (6), Kano (2), Osun (2), Jigawa (1) Plateau (1) and FCT (1).
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/A breakdown of cases by state can be found via https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1378114608213458948?s=19April 2 https://www.nairaland.com/6487744/covid-19-update-april-1-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For April 1 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:23pm On Apr 01, 2021 |
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| Politics › Mahmood Yakubu, Festus Okoye Take COVID-19 Vaccine by References(op): 2:20pm On Apr 01, 2021 |
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and National Commissioner, Festus Okoye take their first jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine today.
Mynd44
Lalasticlala
Mukina2 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For March 31 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:39pm On Mar 31, 2021 |
129 New COVID-19 Cases, 116 Discharged And 1 Death On March 31129 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-46
Ondo-19
Nasarawa-14
Kaduna-11
Borno-9
Bauchi -8
Akwa Ibom-5
FCT-5
Jigawa-4
Plateau-3
Bayelsa-2
Osun-2
Rivers-1 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1377387456576716801?s=19Highlights
On the 31st of March 2021, 129 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 162,891 cases have been confirmed, 151,648 cases have been discharged and 2,057 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 129 new cases are reported from 13 states- Lagos (46), Ondo (19), Nasarawa (14), Kaduna (11), Borno (9), Bauchi (, Akwa Ibom (5), FCT (5), Jigawa (4), Plateau (3), Bayelsa (2), Osun (2) and Rivers (1).
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/Our discharges today include 62 community recoveries in Akwa Ibom and 16 in Ogun State managed in line with guidelines. https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1377387561467834368?s=19March 30 https://www.nairaland.com/6484631/covid-19-update-march-30-2021 
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| Health › Medical Experts Say Nigeria Loses Over ₦576 Billion Yearly To Medical Tourism by References(op): 10:21am On Mar 31, 2021 |
• Doctors divided over Buhari’s London medical trip
• President started his UK medical trip long before 2015, says Shehu
• NARD decries arrears of unpaid salaries
• Blames mass exodus of doctors on poor remuneration, conditions of service
• PDP asks Buhari to admit failure in health sector • Buhari’s health tourism, a global disgrace, says HURIWA
Almost two years after his last private trip to the United Kingdom (UK), President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, jetted out of the country on a medical trip to London for the sixth time since he was sworn into office in 2015.
The president and some aides departed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, for the London ‘routine’ medical check-up around 2:30 p.m. Those at the airport to bid the president farewell included the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello; Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu and other presidential aides.
Before departing the Presidential Villa, Buhari had met behind closed doors with security chiefs, where he directed them “to fish out and crush heads of bandits, kidnappers and their local collaborators to restore confidence in the society.”
The president’s trip has expectedly elicited reactions from Nigerians over the deplorable state of healthcare system with experts saying the country could be losing more than N576 billion ($1.2 billion) yearly to medical tourism.
Nigerians have for decades suffered from an inadequately funded healthcare system, squalid clinics and hospitals, and poorly paid and overworked healthcare workers who frequently move abroad for employment. There are at least 8,178 medical doctors of Nigerian origin working in the U.K., according to data on the U.K. General Medical Council website. The exodus has worsened healthcare in a country that has one doctor for every 5,000 people, according to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
It would be recalled that President Buhari had in 2015 promised to stop medical tourism and save the nation scarce foreign exchange if elected president. In fact, he promised to ban elected government officials from foreign medical trips after he rued the millions of dollars expended on medical tourism.
Before the dawn of COVID-19 last year, reports suggested that almost 5,000 people leave the country monthly for various forms of treatment abroad. However, The Guardian investigation revealed that the rate of medical tourism reduced drastically since January 2020 due to the outbreak of the pandemic and the travel restrictions that followed.
Defending the trip, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari began his yearly medical trip to London even before he came into office as Nigeria’s president in 2015. Shehu said this yesterday while addressing newsmen at the departure wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, just after his principal departed the country for medical check-up.
He said: “The President is looking at the window of opportunity that has opened with the Easter holiday. It’s a much relaxed period for everyone – Good Friday, Easter Monday, National Holidays. Then, he will use that period for his regular medical check-up.
“This is something he has done for so many years even before he came to office. Every year, he had appointment with his doctors and he went there to do it. The only anomaly this time around is that COVID prevented this kind of thing to hold in 2020. So, he has lost some period. The last time he was there was one and half years back.”
The president is due back in the country in the second week of April. Buhari is embarking on the medical trip at a time members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have declared their intention to commence strike action on April 1.
According to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), about N576 billion ($1.2 billion) is lost to medical tourism yearly in Nigeria, an amount that could have been invested in the development of the country’s health care system and the country as a whole. This is about N100 billion less than the N632.7 billion allocated to the health sector in the 2021 budget.
Also, a Price Waterhouse Coopers (2016) report states that Nigerians spend $1 billion annually on medical tourism with 60 per cent of it on four key specialties namely: oncology, orthopedics, nephrology and cardiology. This is nearly 20 per cent of the total government spending on public health sector for the year including salaries of all public sector doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers as well as other health programmes like malaria, tuberculosis, polio and Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention.
NARD’s position is corroborated by a study published in International Journal of Development and Management Review (INJODEMAR) titled “Medical Tourism in Nigeria: Challenges and Remedies to Healthcare System Development.” The paper by researchers from Departments of Sociology, University of Ilorin, Medical Microbiology, Bowen University, and Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, identified brain drain syndrome, underfunding, dilapidated structures and obsolete equipment, industrial strikes, culture of Nigerians preferring anything foreign and negative attitude of health professionals as problems facing the Nigerian health sector.
Some of the remedies to the problem as suggested in the paper include: adequate funding of the system, improved health care facilities, better remuneration and motivation for health workers, government intervention on the battle for supremacy among health workers, immediate ban of government sponsored medical trip abroad, adequate training, enforcement of legal action against medical negligence, improved medical research and encouraging foreign investment.
MEANWHILE, despite widespread debate of Mr. President’s visit to UK, medical doctors are divided on whether it is appropriate or otherwise after the country spent huge sums of money recently to refurbish the Aso Rock clinic. In its 2021 budget, the president allocated its highest amount ever to the State House including the ‘presidential wing’ of a hospital the president seldom uses, where N17.3 billion will be spent to run the State House, Nigeria’s seat of power.
While the apex body of medical doctors in Nigeria, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), says Mr. President has the right to choose where to get treated, the radical body of medical doctors, NARD, says Buhari’s trip is a waste of scare foreign exchange and it is encouraging brain drain. They are, however, unanimous that Nigeria can reduce the unemployment indices drastically by investing heavily on health.
President, NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, told The Guardian yesterday: “I don’t have any problem with Mr. President going abroad for medical treatment. What I will not support is he going there for malaria treatment. Besides that, the President has the right to choose where to get treated.”
Ujah, however, urged the Federal Government to meet the demands of resident doctors to avoid another industrial action that could shut down the health sector. “These doctors are suffering. Despite all the risk they are taking treating patients, they are being owed. That is not fair. A labourer deserves his or her wages. They have exhausted other avenues to get their demands and strike has become the only option,” the NMA President said.
President of NARD, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, told The Guardian: “Truly what is the state of the Villa clinic? What is the state of all the monies been budgeted yearly for the clinic? This tells you no one is accountable. If things have been normal, no commander in chief will travel for a ‘routine’ medical check-up. If we are in a saner nation, the medical specialty the Commander In Chief (CIC) needs would be deployed there. But no one has been deployed. I can almost as a matter of fact tell you that the lead physician who the CIC sees is most likely a Nigerian who relocated for greener pastures to save his sanity.”
On threat to begin strike tomorrow (Thursday), Okhuaihesuyi said: “The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors after an extraordinary National Executive council has decided to embark on an industrial action owing to persistent neglect of the health institution as well as the welfare of the persons working round the clock to ensure health is given to our people.
“The government has over the past 20 years reneged on all its terms of settlement with doctors whilst the doctors have once again been made to carry on despite poor working conditions with hearts laden with pain. If the Aso Villa clinic was working at top quality backed with good remuneration they would have top class physicians there delivering top quality service but again it’s not the case. The clinic is just in the name, nothing to show for it.”
On why Nigerian doctors still leave for greener pastures abroad, the NARD President said the major tripod of emigration of doctors are: poor working condition; insecurity; and welfare. Okhuaihesuyi said these top three, the world over, make for doctors emigrating.
“As we speak Nigeria has no three star government-owned tertiary health institution. How many radio oncology centres do we have, yet we have expertise but our patients die physically and mentally after long waits for radiation therapy. Can you walk into any health facility in Nigeria today and get sorted out easily? We are still moving at a snail pace while other nations of the world are miles ahead,” he said.
Globally, medical tourism has contributed immensely to the growth and development of healthcare system and countries engage in it because it attracts people from various parts of the world, thereby adding value to the countries involved. In the United States for example, over 60,000 medical tourists were attracted to the country in 2008, while in the year 2012, Jordan attracted 250,000 international patients accompanied by more than 500,000 relatives generating well above $1 billion income from medical tourism that same year. There is no record of medical tourists coming to Nigeria.
MEANWHILE, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to admit that his administration has failed to make impact in the healthcare system. The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that the routine overseas medical check-up by the President is a direct indictment of his presidency over its failure to fix the healthcare system.
The party said it is worrisome that under President Buhari, even the hitherto highly rated State House Clinic, has become so moribund that it can no longer provide a simple medical check-up service for Mr. President.
“While the PDP has nothing against where any person, including President Buhari, seeks his or her medical services, our party is worried that the Buhari presidency is taking no decisive steps to fix our health care system, ostensibly because Mr. President can afford overseas medical treatment at tax payers’ expense,” the statement added.
ALSO, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has described as shameful and regrettable the decision of President Buhari to continue to travel to London at serious costs to the taxpayers to take care of his personal health needs. The rights group said the unwise choice of the President to patronise foreign health service providers in total rejection and disregard for the Nigerian indigenous health service professionals has shown that his administration is hypocritical about achieving any kind of mileage in the area of rebuilding the near moribund health care sector of the nation’s economy.
“The continuous patronage of foreign medical services by President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his immediate family is a categorical message that the president, Muhammadu Buhari, may be unwilling to bequeath enduring and sustainable legacies in the areas of building enduring and strategic health infrastructures, which should put to an end to the wasteful ventures of tourism by government officials who fritter scarce foreign reserves to service their personal health challenges at public costs abroad.” https://m.guardian.ng/news/nigeria-loses-over-n576b-yearly-to-medical-tourism/
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For March 30 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 12:12am On Mar 31, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For March 29 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:50pm On Mar 29, 2021 |
48 New COVID-19 Cases, 158 Discharged And 1 Death On March 2948 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-13
Kaduna-7
Nasarawa-7
Kano-6
Kwara-5
Ondo-4
Akwa Ibom-3
Osun-3 https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1376661872213114887?s=19Highlights
On the 29th of March 2021, 48 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 162641 cases have been confirmed, 150466 cases have been discharged and 2049 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 48 new cases are reported from 8 states- Lagos (13), Kaduna (7), Nasarawa (7), Kano (6), Kwara (5), Ondo (4), Akwa Ibom (3), and Osun (3)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/Our discharges today include 28 community recoveries in Ekiti State managed in line with guidelines.
A breakdown of cases by state can be found via: https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1376662304880746501?s=19March 28 https://www.nairaland.com/6481456/covid-19-update-march-28-2021 
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For March 28 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 11:29pm On Mar 28, 2021 |
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| Health › COVID-19 Update For March 27 2021 In Nigeria by References(op): 12:03am On Mar 28, 2021 |
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| Sports › BREAKING: Iwobi Tests Positive For Covid-19, Out Of Benin Clash by References(op): 3:30pm On Mar 27, 2021 |
Super Eagles winger Alex Iwobi has tested positive for Coronavirus and will miss today’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Benin, reports Completesports.com.
Players and officials of the team took Covid-19 test on their arrival at Cotonou from Lagos on Friday.
IwobI, who was expected to be named in the starting line-up will also miss next Tuesday’s home clash against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.
Benin will be without Rodrigue kossi and Jacques Bessan after the duo tested positive for Covid-19.
The encounter billed for the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto-Novo will kick-off at 5pm. https://www.completesports.com/breaking-iwobi-tests-positive-for-covid-19-out-of-benin-clash/amp/?__twitter_impression=trueLalasticlala Mynd44 Mukina2 |
