Tag: Covid-19

AFDB Approves $288.5m For Nigeria’s COVID-19 Response Programme

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank on Friday approved a $288.5 million loan to help Nigeria tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The loan will also help the Nigerian government mitigate the impact of COVID -19 on people and businesses.

According to a statement from the AfDB, “the loan will bolster the government’s plans to improve surveillance and response to COVID-19 emergencies, ease the impact on workers and businesses and strengthen the social protection system.”

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s largest oil producer, is facing twin crises – a health epidemic caused by COVID-19, and an economic crunch largely occasioned by a global oil price plunge.

As of June 5, the country reported 11,516 coronavirus cases, 3,535 recoveries and 323 deaths.

The loan is the AfDB’s initial response to help mitigate the slump in oil prices and its impact on the national economy.

About 40.1% of Nigerians live below the poverty line of $1.90 per day, and it is feared that the fall in household income during the pandemic will result in wealth deterioration for both the formal and informal sector workers.

Ebrima Faal, Senior Director of the African Development Bank for Nigeria, said “the proposed programme will ensure that the fiscal position and the economy are sufficiently supported to weather the COVID-19 shocks, thereby limiting its potential adverse impact on livelihoods and the economy more generally.”

AfDB noted that prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Nigeria’s economy was projected to grow by 2.9% of GDP in 2020 and further expand by 3.3% in 2021.

“But with the advent of the pandemic and the slump in crude prices, the economy is expected to shrink by between 4.4% under a conservative baseline scenario and 7.2% should the pandemic persist to end-2020.

Faal said that “beyond the country’s immediate economic recovery needs, the Bank and other development partners will dialogue with the government on proposals for medium-term structural reforms to diversify and boost domestic revenues away from the oil sector.”

He added that “the Bank has instituted strong fiduciary measures to monitor the use of COVID-19 funds, and will maintain dialogue, particularly with the Office of the Auditor General in Nigeria, to ensure adherence to the transparency and accountability of the funds.

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.

Covid-19: Anambra State Set To Distribute 3M Masks

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

Willie Obiano

Anambra Gov. Willie Obiano says the state government is set to distribute no fewer than three million face mask.

He also stated that 63 markets would be fumigated to minimize human exposure to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other infections in the state.

The Governor, who stated this at a special broadcast on Thursday at Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, said the masks would be made by local tailors selected from each of the 181 communities of the state.

“Our intention in handing out three million masks is to ensure that after the 14-day lockdown of the state, no one will step out of their home without wearing a nose mask.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Anambra sends more samples for testing, sets up isolation centers
“Government and the leadership of tricycle and shuttle bus operators in the state are also given a two-month waiver on permits they pay to cushion the sudden fall in their income.

“This is also a part of our economic stimulus package for the vulnerable,” he added.

Obiano further disclosed that the state government had migrated its classrooms to radio, television and Facebook to ensure that school children were not adversely affected by the lockdown.

According to him, a programme titled “Anambra Teaching on Air” had commenced on the state government media platforms to meet the educational needs of school children.
Although, no confirmed case had been reported in the state, Obiano said that six samples from ‘case description’ were taken for test and four of them came out negative.

He said the results of the other two and three new samples sent on April 2, were being expected.

The governor further disclosed that the state government had set up a 250-bed isolation centre at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Mbaukwu/Umuawulu and another 16-bed isolation centre at the General Hospital, Onitsha.

He said the isolation centre at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku-Awka was being raised to standard in case of any outbreak.

Obiano said two such centres were also at Ekwulobia General Hospital and Umueri General Hospital and were currently being equipped by the managements of Fidelity Bank and the Access Bank.

The governor noted that the state government had mounted massive awareness campaign to enlighten the people on the threat of the pandemic.
“We have closed our boundaries with neighbouring states and shut down our 63 major markets in Anambra State to flatten the curve on this virus.

“We have commenced the distribution of 200 bags of rice to each of the 181 communities in the state for further distribution among our senior citizens from 70 years and above.

“In communities where we have more than 200 people within the specified age bracket, distribution shall start from the oldest to the youngest in the age bracket,”he said.

He added that 10 per cent refund on personal income taxes was given to businesses for the year 2019.

The governor commended the interventions from illustrious sons and daughters of the state, as well as the private sectors to help cushion the effect of the lockdown in the state.

He said the interventions came from Chief Arthur Eze, Dr Cosmas Maduka, Chief Innocent Chukwuma (Innoson), Sir Emeka Offor, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu (Chisco), Emma Bishop Okonkwo and Chief Allen Onyema (Air Peace).

Others are: UBA Plc, Ibeto Petrochemical, Ejison International Ltd, Chief Ken Nwogbo, Dozzy Oil, Sen. Victor Umeh, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu of Ojoto, Chief Godwin Ezeemo and Dr Ernest Obiejesi, among others.

He, however, appealed to spirited individuals and organisations for more donations, especially ventilators and protective gears to boost its capacity to overcome possible threats posed by the pandemic.

Obiano reminded the people of the need to maintain proper hygiene, especially regular hand washing with soap and the use of sanitisers.

“Cough and sneeze into your elbows, put on a face mask while going out and, most importantly, stay home and stay safe,” the governor emphasised.

COVID-19: Britain Records Almost 3,000 Deaths.

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

Britain’s deaths linked to novel coronavirus jumped again with a new daily record of 569 deaths on Thursday, taking the country’s total deaths to almost 3,000.

Health Ministry said the total number of confirmed infections rose to nearly 34,000 from 163,000 people tested, but government experts estimated that hundreds of thousands of people are infected.

Health experts continued to question Britain’s low rate of testing compared with most other European nations after cabinet minister Michael Gove said that the government “must go further and faster” in its testing programme.

Gove said the shortage of a chemical reagent was one factor behind the slow increase in testing.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is infected with the coronavirus and self-isolating, has ordered everyone to stay at home except for trips for food shopping, medical needs or one form of exercise per day.

Covid-19: After Isolation, Buhari’s Daughter Rejoins Family.

Published on by faveguyLeave a comment

ABUJA—THE daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari who went on self-isolation after returning from the United Kingdom, UK, two weeks ago has rejoined the family.

Recall that the First Lady, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari had about two weeks ago wrote on her Twitter handle that her daughter had gone on self-isolation for 14-days.

She had explained that the action was a precautionary measure to curb any spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) as the daughter returned from UK which is one of the high-risk countries.

But a statement issued by Aliyu Abdullahi, Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the First Lady, said that the Buhari’s daughter has completed the isolation period and has reunited with the family.

The statement read, “I’m happy to inform you that the young lady in question, Mr. President’s daughter has successfully completed her isolation period of 14 days and she’s normal, very healthy and well.
“She has since this afternoon (Thursday) rejoined her family, the mother, her Excellency First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari personally received her.

” The lesson here for Nigerians and other parents to learn is that this is a child with all the privileges one can ever think to have in the country but the parents and the daughter insisted in following the NCDC protocol.”