Tag: Coronavirus

COVID-19: Dave’s Aides On How They Survived Corona Virus

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

Two aides of Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi have explained how they survived the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, saying that they were miraculously healed by God.

The aides, Prof. Ogbonnaya Chukwu, the state Commissioner for Finance and Chief Clement Nweke, Principal Secretary to the Governor, in separate statements on Monday in Abakaliki, urged the citizens to take issues concerning the disease seriously.

Chukwu, in a statement he personally signed, said that he had been out of circulation for some time, due to the COVID-19 infection.

“It should be mentioned that while I walked through the valley of death’s shadow, I saw no evil because the Lord God was with me.

“A man in white apparel appeared to me on June 1 and squeezed my stomach hard, saying that this sickness would not be unto death.

“I was on life support and my stomach rumbled for a while,” he said.

Chukwu further said that on June 2, the governor took over with words of encouragement, urging him on during the trying moment.

“He momentarily took over my management with the Chief Medical Director of the Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) and other health professionals.

“The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) ministers, led by Dr Paul Enenche, also stood in the gap and called on the God of heaven and earth.

“God’s mercy prevailed over judgment, and I am going home with a clean bill of health, having been certified COVID-19 negative,” he said.

The commissioner also thanked his family, relations and colleagues, among others for their prayers and support, declaring that COVID-19 was not a death sentence.

On his own, Nweke said that he walked out out the state’s isolation centre to join his family after spending 10 days in the facility.

“I had repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19 after being taken to the isolation centre on May 29.

“I had taken responsibility and requested to be tested for COVID-19, following a confirmed test of acute ‘plus-three’ malaria and pneumonia.

Nweke thanked the governor for his ‘rapid response’ to his case and for his foresight in establishing and equipping the state’s virology centre in Abakaliki.

“One could have imagined the difficulty that infected Ebonyi people would have faced if their samples were to be taken to Irua in Edo for testing or treatment,” he said.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezurike, confirmed the discharge of the two top government functionaries from the isolation centre, noting that they had tested negative twice after being treated for the disease.

“We thank God for their discharge and urge the public to continue observing all precautionary protocols outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) because the disease is real,” he said.

CACOVID Donates N250m Medical Equipment To Oyo

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a private sector initiative established to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, has donated N220 million medical equipment to the Oyo State Government.

CACOVID also donated N30 million to the state government.

The CACOVID team lead in-charge of Oyo and Osun states, Dr Timothy Aroowogun, made the donation on behalf of the coalition.

“The objective of donating the equipment is to support the state government in eliminating COVID-19, help the citizens and also help the health workers to contain the pandemic in the state.

“The First Bank Nigeria Limited, as a frontline member of the CACOVID initiative, is partnering with the government to provide the much needed support in the fight against COVID-19 in order to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country,” he said.

Receiving the donation, Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan, appreciated the CACOVID team for the initiative.

He gave an assurance that all the donated medical equipment and supplies would be deployed to the soon to be opened Saki 100-bed isolation and treatment centre.

According to the governor, the opening of an isolation centre in Saki is strategic due to its location as a border town to neighbouring West African countries.

“The Saki Isolation Centre is going to be three-in-one. It will have what you call an observatory and isolation and treatment centre.

“The reason we need to have an observatory is because Saki is a border town and many people come in from different parts of the West African states, especially Burkina Faso and Benin Republic, they come in through that area,” he said.

In his remarks, Prof. Temitope Alonge, a member of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force, described all the equipment donated as appropriate for the treatment pattern being followed in the state in the fight against COVID-19.

Alonge said: “What thrilled me is that the CACOVID team took cognisance of the disease pattern that we are managing and decided to provide equipment that are appropriate.

“On many occasions, people have made donations that are good on paper but in terms of usefulness, probably not as good.

“But what they have done is to provide everything from the most mundane to the expensive ventilators, which are all going to be utilised for the management of this disease.

“And to top it all, they brought us about 40 cylinders of oxygen, meaning for the next one year or thereabout, there may not be need for the Saki Centre to run to Ibadan to come and collect oxygen.”

Some of the equipment donated were Lead ECG electrode, heavy duty apron, autoclave, auto syringe pump, biohazard bag, blood warmer, centrifuge (refrigerator), defibrillators (AED) and portable ultrasound imaging.

Others include mobile digital x-ray unit, face shield, protective goggles, hospital gowns, oxygen cylinders, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrator, oxygen regulators, nebuliser, kidney dish, patient multiparameter monitor, stretcher and suction devices.

Kaduna State Govt-“We Are Still In Lockdown”

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

The Kaduna State Government has disowned a document that has been making the rounds, stating that the Quarantine Law has been reviewed and that 12-hour lockdown is now in place.

The document, which the government described as fake, claimed that the lockdown is now from 6pm to 6am but that interstate travel remains banned.

The Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye on Sunday, said several people have called government officials to enquire about the authenticity of the document that has gone  viral on social media platforms.

Adekeye stated categorically that, ‘’the Quarantine Order remains in force until Tuesday, 9 June, 2020 when the two-week extension expires.

“Until then, the lockdown remains in force. The night-time curfew also remains in force, until the government announces otherwise,’’ the Special Adviser warned.

COVID-19: CBN Earmarks N50m Grant For Herbal Medicine Research

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

Researchers into herbal medicines and vaccines for COVID-19 can now access N50 million grant from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The CBN in the guidelines released at the weekend, said research activities will attract ?50 million, while development/manufacturing activities will attract a maximum of N500 million.

According to the guidelines “disbursement under the scheme shall be made to beneficiaries in tranches subject to achieved approved milestones.”

Once the grant is awarded to researchers and/or developers, the CBN said it will “have proprietary right over all financed R&D outcomes or products.”

Also, licensing protocol for the mass manufacturing of developed drugs, phytomedicines and vaccines, the CBN said “shall be defined by the Body of Experts (BoE) in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).”

The guidelines state that Body of Experts (BoE) shall be responsible for the review and evaluation of submitted research proposals.

COVID-19: Warning; Fake Chloroquine 250mg In Circulation

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has alerted Nigerians to be mindful of fake chloroquine phosphate 250mg tablets currently in circulation.

According to a statement by the Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the NAFDAC was notified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the circulation of the tablets in Cameroon.

“The falsified chloroquine phosphate 250mg tablets were manufactured by Jiangsu pharmaceutical Inc, Astral pharmaceutical New Bhupalpura, China.

“The tablets manufactured by these companies have no Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and are in packs of 1000 tablets.

“The use of the falsified chloroquine phosphate 250mg tablets may result in treatment failure and could even cause death,” she warned.

She also said that the labelling information on the falsified chloroquine phosphate 250mg tablets manufactured by Jiangsu pharmaceutical Inc, China is labelled with fake NAFDAC No.: 028060.

“The Astral pharmaceuticals, New Bhupalpura, China is labelled with fake NAFDAC registration No. 0587612 and advised the general public to be aware of this drug.

“All importers, wholesalers, and retailers are hereby cautioned to desist from illegal importation, distribution, and sale of falsified chloroquine phosphate 250mg tablets.

“NAFDAC has strengthened its surveillance in all ports of entry to prevent illegal importation of the falsified chloroquine phosphate 250mg tablets.

“The agency has also heightened surveillance in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to prevent distribution and sale of this falsified drug.

“Healthcare providers and other members of the public are advised to be vigilant and contact the nearest NAFDAC office with any information on the falsified chloroquine,” she said.

She, however, urged anybody in possession of the falsified chloroquine to submit it to the nearest NAFDAC office, and advised the consumer to report adverse events related to the use of the medicine, or call the agency toll free lines: 0800-1-NAFDAC and 0800-1-623322.