Category: Health And Lifestyle

The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
This comes as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) revealed yesterday that over 47 million eligible Nigerians have already received the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, made the announcement while receiving 604,000 Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines donated by mobile telecommunications firm MTN-Nigeria.

According to Reuters, it was Ghebreyesus’ most optimistic assessment of the years-long health crisis that has killed over 6 million people.

“We haven’t arrived yet.” “However, the end is in sight,” WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters during a virtual press conference.

That was the most upbeat assessment from the UN agency since it declared an international emergency in January 2020 and started describing COVID-19 as a pandemic three months later.
The virus, which emerged in China in late 2019, has killed nearly 6.5 million people and infected 606 million, roiling global economies and overwhelming healthcare systems.

The rollout of vaccines and therapies have helped to stem deaths and hospitalisations, and the Omicron variant which emerged late last year causes less severe disease. Deaths from COVID-19 last week were the lowest since March 2020, the UN agency reported.

Still on Wednesday, he again urged nations to maintain their vigilance and likened the pandemic to a marathon race.

“Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap the rewards of all our hard work.”

Countries need to take a hard look at their policies and strengthen them for COVID-19 and future viruses, Tedros added.
He also urged nations to vaccinate 100 per cent of their high-risk groups and keep testing for the virus.

The WHO said countries needed to maintain adequate supplies of medical equipment and healthcare workers.

“We expect there to be future waves of infections, potentially at different time points throughout the world caused by different subvariants of Omicron or even different variants of concern,” said WHO’s senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove.

With over 1 million deaths this year alone, the pandemic remains an emergency globally and within most countries.

“The COVID-19 summer wave, driven by Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, showed that the pandemic is not yet over as the virus continues to circulate in Europe and beyond,” a European Commission spokesperson said.

WHO’s next meeting of experts to decide whether the pandemic still represents a public health emergency of international concern is due in October, a WHO spokesperson said.

“It’s probably fair to say most of the world is moving beyond the emergency phase of the pandemic response,” said Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University.

Governments are now looking at how best to manage COVID as part of their routine healthcare and surveillance, he added

Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States have approved vaccines that target the Omicron variant as well as the original virus as countries prepare to launch winter booster campaigns.
In the United States, COVID-19 was initially declared a public health emergency in January 2020, and that status has been renewed quarterly ever since.

The US health department is set to renew it again in mid-October for what policy experts expect is the last time before it expires in January 2023.

US health officials have said that the pandemic is not over, but that new bivalent vaccines mark an important shift in the fight against the virus.

They predict that a single annual vaccine akin to the flu shot should provide a high degree of protection and return the country closer to normalcy.

NPHCDA: Over 47 Million Nigerians Vaccinated against COVID-19

Meanwhile, the NPHCDA yesterday revealed that over 47 million eligible persons in Nigeria have so far received the COVID-19 vaccines.

Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this while taking delivery of the 604,000 Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines donated by mobile telecommunication firm, MTN-Nigeria.

The NPHCDA Boss who was represented at the event, Dr. Bassey Okposen, said as, “at 14th of September 2022, 47,172,937 eligible persons have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine representing 42.2 per cent of the eligible population.”

According to him, 34,242,083 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 30.6 per cent of eligible persons, while 3,678,412 of the fully vaccinated persons have received their booster doses,

While commending MTN for their generous offer, Shuaib said the company has demonstrated its wish to see an end to COVID-19 in Nigeria.

“One can imagine what our dear country would have been facing by now if we did not have support like the one, we are receiving from MTN today.

“The reason we are gathered here is to officially receive the donation of 604,800 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine by MTN to Nigeria.

“MTN has been a faithful partner in development to the Government of Nigeria, and a great friend of Nigerian people. So, on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I want to thank MTN for this exemplary support.

“Without equivocation, 604,800 doses of J&J vaccine means a potential 604,800 fully vaccinated Nigerians. This is to say that MTN is wishing Nigeria the fast lane to COVID-19 recovery,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, MTN Nigeria General Manager, Regional Operations, North, Hajia Amina Danbatta, said the company had in collaboration with African Union (AU) and the Vaccine Acquisition Test Scheme, pledged to distribute the Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Africa particularly Nigeria, where it operates, and have subscribers.

But she explained that as at 2021, the vaccines were not yet readily available for distribution.

Danbatta noted that, “In 2001, the world was hit by the pandemic and it was a time that every nation was struggling: we didn’t have the vaccines, we were struggling and learning on the go.

“But, fortunately, the vaccines were developed and these are now being distributed. Now, in conjunction with the African Union (AU) and the Vaccine Acquisition Test Scheme, MTN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) where MTN will distribute vaccines to Africa particularly Nigeria, where we operate, where we have subscribers and where we operate our businesses.”

According to her, “And we contacted the Ministry of Health in October 2021, to express our intentions in conjunction with the AU and partners to deliver at least 604, 000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines which is about $25 billion.

“And we got approval to deliver last year and here we are today to deliver these vaccines which we believe the Ministry of Health will distribute to those in need.

“Luckily we’ve had the vaccines coming into the country but this Johnson & Johnson will also be administered to citizens of Nigeria.”

She added that MTN, being a corporate social organisation had earlier started by educating Nigerians through messages on the six principles needed to be carried out to contain the pandemic.

Representative of the Country Director of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Walter Mulombo, said vaccines have so far proven to reduce the severity of the COVID-19 disease. He urged all stakeholders to join hands in mobilising Nigerians to come out and take the vaccines so as to stem the tide of infection.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Sonia Ekweremadu, the daughter of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, appealed to the public yesterday to help donate a kidney to replace her damaged one.

Sonia, whose parents were arrested in the United Kingdom while trying to find her a donor, revealed on her Instagram page that she had a rare kidney disease.

The Nigerian lawmaker and his wife, Beatrice, are charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person for the purpose of exploitation, specifically organ harvesting.

On June 23, Ekweremadu and Beatrice were arrested and remanded in a UK prison on suspicion of plotting to harvest the organs of one David Nwamini for use by their ailing daughter, Sonia.

But Ekweremadu said the boy was undergoing medical investigations for a kidney donation to Sonia, his daughter, who was in need of a kidney transplant.

The Instagram statement said, “I, Sonia Ekweremadu, hereby appeal to the general public to come to my aid and save my life.
“I am 25 years old and a graduate of Media and Communications, University of Coventry. I dropped out of my post-graduate studies at the University of Newcastle in 2019 when I was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, FSGS Nephrotic Syndrome.”

The young Ekweremadu stated that her family had battled to save her life and had taken her to various hospitals, but said the illness persisted and kept degenerating.

According to her, “I am presently in London, UK, receiving five hours of dialysis three to four times a week. This is at the expense of my family as I am not qualified for NHS due to my immigration status.

“The last three years have been extremely challenging. The charges being faced by my parents in London presently are directly connected to my illness and have complicated matter for me and my family.
“I do not intend to delve into details of this unfortunate development as the matter is still in court. I am, however, optimistic that the truth will prevail and it will end in praise to God.”

Sonia appealed to anybody whom it might please to assist her willingly with a kidney donation.

She stressed, “This appeal would have been utterly unnecessary as every member of my family is eager to donate their kidney to me, knowing that I would do the same for any of them.

“Regrettably, comprehensive medical examination showed that my case of nephrotic syndrome is a genetic illness and the doctors advised against donation from any of my family members, as it would likely reoccur.

“In the time that my father has been incarcerated, he has been diagnosed with acute kidney damage.

“Anybody that is moved by this appeal and wishes to donate his or her kidney to me may send an email to helpsonialive@gmail.com and include his or her name, phone number, email address and place of residence.

“Please, note that under the laws of England and Wales, organ donation must be purely driven by compassion and, therefore, no reward is involved.”

In addition, Sonia said she had decided to commit and dedicate the rest of her life to helping people with the challenge of kidney disease, upon her full recovery.