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Tag: National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

  • Enugu Govt Confirms Strange Death In Communities

    Enugu Govt Confirms Strange Death In Communities

    The Enugu State Government has confirmed the strange deaths in two communities in the state; Ette Uno and Umuopu communities in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

    The communities share border with Kogi state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi said there had been a number of deaths suggestive of a disease of public health importance in the area.

    In statement on Thursday, Obi said the State Rapid Response Team of the ministry had visited the council area.

    He said that samples of patients had been collected and sent to the National Reference Laboratory to find out the cause of the strange deaths.

    Recall that an online newspaper had on Thursday reported that a strange disease had left no fewer than 40 persons in the two Enugu communities dead.

    “On-the-spot check and outbreak investigation had revealed a number of deaths from an illness with symptoms suggestive of a disease of Public Health Importance.

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    “The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been informed and is collaborating with the ministry to investigate and control the reports,” Obi said.

    Assuring the general public that the ministry was on top of the situation, Obi said that the ministry would continue to give them situation report on the matter.

  • COVID-19: Jigawa CJ Directs Reopening Of Courts

    COVID-19: Jigawa CJ Directs Reopening Of Courts

    The Jigawa Chief Judge, Justice Aminu Sabo, has directed all courts across the state to reopen for normal judicial activities.

    Ag. Director, Administration and Publicity of the state’s Judiciary, Auwalu Balago, announced the directive in a statement on Friday in Dutse.

    The directives, Balago stated, followed the satisfactory compliance with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols on COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The Chief Judge of Jigawa, Justice Aminu.

    Sabo, has directed for the immediate resumption of court activities across the state.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: Jigawa Govt Extends Work-from-home Order By 2 Weeks

    “The resumption followed satisfactory compliance with the NCDC protocols and NJC guidelines on COVID-19 pandemic that require among others, fumigation of court premises and training of personnel on the technical know-how on COVID-19 protocols,’’ Balago stated.

    According to him, court users and the general public are required to submit themselves to temperature reading, wear face mask and sanitising their hands at the point of entry into the courts premises.

    Recall that the state government had initially directed its workers to work from home for two weeks since March 24.

    It however, continually extended the order, until August 3, when it directed all categories of civil servants to return to work from August 4.

    NAN

  • Plateau NANNM Calls Off ‘Sit-at-home’ Protest For Members At JUTH Isolation Center

    Plateau NANNM Calls Off ‘Sit-at-home’ Protest For Members At JUTH Isolation Center

    The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) chapter, has called off the sit-at-home protest embarked on by members working in its isolation center with effect from May 30.

    Recall that the JUTH chapter of the union had on May 25 ordered its members working at the isolation centre to embark on a sit-at-home protest over what it called negligence of their welfare.

    The Chairman of the union , Mrs. Mercy Lenka, in an interview with NAN said the call-off followed progress in negotiations with the State Government on the provision of accommodation for the nurses working at the centre.

    Lenka said that provision of accommodation was stipulated in the guidelines of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for health personnel working in isolation centers.

    She said provision of accommodation was critical even if other negotiations would be done later, adding that the protest was necessary as returning home after work was risking the lives of family members of the health workers.

    “Seeing this progress report, at least even if not all our demands are met, we are mindful and determined to help the government to tackle the Coronavirus disease.

    “We decided that we cannot sit at home and say everything should be given for we are human beings and have our profession, humanity and patients at heart,” she said.

    READ ALSO: COVID19: Nurses At JUTH Isolation Centre Down Tools

    The chairman said the state council of NANNM and other critical stakeholders in the health sector had initially rejected an accommodation provided for them, saying the environment was not conducive.

    “We want to appreciate the Intervention of elders in the health sector especially the Department of State Security Services (DSS) for their input to get a good accommodation for our nurses working in JUTH isolation center.

    “We were called this morning to come and inspect the place and we are satisfied with it. We have negotiated and arranged everything on their feeding and transportation and those on duty have returned since afternoon,” she said

    According to the NANNM official, it was necessary for a designated vehicle to convey the nurses working at the centre to reduce contacts and exposure of them to other members of the public.

    She expressed delight that the safety of members and their families was now guaranteed by the action, saying they were patient on other demands such as hazard allowance and incentives.

    She said findings indicated that modalities were being processed for all health workers working in the isolation centres in Plateau for such allowances.

    Lenka said arrangements had been made for nurses working at the center to be tested of COVID-19, adding that it was part of the conditions the union gave before the nurses returned to their duty posts.

  • COVID-19: No Patient Detained At National Hospital – Management

    COVID-19: No Patient Detained At National Hospital – Management

    The National Hospital Abuja (NHA) has said no COVID-19 patient was being detained in the hospital.

    Deputy Director and Head of Information and Protocol for the hospital, Mr. Tayo Haastrup, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    He said more than 35 patients were admitted at various times and 27 of them had been discharged successfully.

    The only patient who refused treatment, according to him, stayed beyond 45 days and remained asymptomatic.

    “All our patients were discharged within three weeks of admission, following treatment with their full cooperation and in line with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol on case management.

    READ ALSO: National Hospital Discharges Separated Conjoined Twins, Dashes Parents N200,000

    “We want to make it clear to the public that no patient is being detained in the hospital,’’ Haastrup said.

    The NHS Deputy Director and Head of Information and Protocol disclosed that with the review of protocol for isolation with the Ministry of Health and NCDC, it was agreed that patients, who remained asymptomatic beyond 45 days, could be allowed to go home on self-isolation.

    A repeat test could then be done after five to 10 days, to confirm if the patient has become negative, he added.

    Haastrup advised the public to adhere to the rules and guidelines by the National Committee on COVID-19 to avoid further spread of the infection in the community.

  • COVID-19: 3 Health Workers Test Positive In Plateau State

    COVID-19: 3 Health Workers Test Positive In Plateau State

    Three health workers in Plateau State have tested positive for coronavirus while 18 patients have been discharged after testing negative.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing by the State Task Force on COVID-19 in Jos.

    The commissioner had on Wednesday, May 20, disclosed that two Health officials were infected with the virus.

    He said that one of the seven new confirmed cases announced by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday, was a health official, bringing to three the number of health officials infected by the disease.

    He explained that the state had so far recorded 57 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 18 patients discharged and one death.

    READ ALSO: 7 Health Workers Test Positive For COVID-19 In Borno – Commissioner

    The Commissioner noted that the epicentre of the disease in Plateau was in Jos North Local Government.

    He advised residents of the state, especially those in the Jos area, to observe personal and respiratory hygiene and other guidelines by the government to mitigate its spread.

    Speaking also, the commissioner of information, Mr. Dan Manjang appealed to enforcement agencies at the interstate borders to be diligent in discharging their duties.

    He urged them to intensify their efforts as most of the cases of COVID-19 were imported from other states.

    The Commissioner disclosed that civil servants from grade level 10 to 14 have been deployed to join in the enforcement exercise.

  • COVID-19: Kano Extends Lockdown By One Week

    COVID-19: Kano Extends Lockdown By One Week

    Kano state government has extended the lockdown in the state by a week to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

    The Commissioner for Information in the state, Muhammed Garba disclosed this in a statement issued late on Monday.

    He explained that the government’s decision became imperative after due consultations with the Federal government and key stakeholders in the health sector.

    Garba stated that the measure was aimed at further reducing person-to-person contacts, considered as one of the major ways the disease was being spread.

    Acknowledging the effects of the measure on the public, the state government, however, called for patience and support as the fight against the pandemic continues.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: Nasarawa Records 13 New Cases, Extends Lockdown In Nasarawa LGA

    The state further called on the public to continue observing strict personal hygiene measures through regular hand washing, use of face masks and social distancing.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kano has 666 confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases, with 571 active cases and 32 deaths.

    As per the update of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the state had discharged 63 persons as at 11:45pm of May 11, 2020.

    A week ago, the state relaxed the lockdown order by allowing residents to move freely on Mondays and Thursdays, from 10p.m to 4p.m every week.

    The aim of the relaxation was to allow people make some shopping to cope with the Ramadan period amidst the lockdown.

  • Anyone Found Without A Face Mask Will Be Prosecuted – FG

    Anyone Found Without A Face Mask Will Be Prosecuted – FG

    The federal government has announced that anyone not wearing a face mask in public would face prosecution.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha released by the PTF on COVID-19 ahead of the phased and gradual easing of the lockdown.

    The phased easing of the lockdown begins on Monday, May 4.

    The statement also noted that anyone who violates the curfew in a non emergency situation would be prosecuted.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: NCDC Task Benue Govt To Introduce Neighborhood Watch, Institutionalize Use Of Face Mask

    “Anyone who presents a temperature of above 38ºC will be mandated to return home and call NCDC for evaluation.

    “Anyone without a face mask/covering will be asked to return home and will be prosecuted.

    “Anyone violating the curfew in a non-emergency situation will be prosecuted. Anyone attending a gathering of more than 20 people will be prosecuted.

    “Any member of the public who violates the ban on Inter-State movement as outlined in this guideline will be prosecuted,” the statement read.

  • COVID-19: Junior Level Civil Servants Return To Work In Ebonyi, May 4

    COVID-19: Junior Level Civil Servants Return To Work In Ebonyi, May 4

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has directed that civil servants on salary grade levels 1-10 should return to work on Monday, May 4.

    The Governor’s directive was contained in a statement signed by the state Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Chamberlain Nwele, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the affected category of workers had been on compulsory break as part of the state government’s precautionary measures against COVID-19 pandemic.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19 :Oyo Civil Servants From GL 13 Upward Resume Work On Monday

    “The civil servants are reminded to apply all COVID-19 precautionary measures as directed by the government and stipulated guidelines by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” Umahi said.

    NAN recalls that Umahi on April 28, lifted the ban on motorcycle operation and the dusk-to-dawn curfew across the state.

  • COVID-19- Reps Summon PTF, DG NCDC, Health Minister

    COVID-19- Reps Summon PTF, DG NCDC, Health Minister

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19 to appear before it on May 5, to brief it 5 on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and its template for the intervention in all the states of the federation.

    The lawmakers also directed the Director-General, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Minister of Health to appear before it.

    The directive followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of Matter of Urgent Public Importance by Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano) at the resumed plenary on Tuesday.

    Moving the motion, Doguwa recalled that index COVID-19 case was reported on Feb. 27, 2020 in Nigeria and that the country had so far recorded 1,337 confirmed cases of the virus, 40 deaths and 255 recoveries.

    He said that the Federal Government had released N5 billion to NCDC to scale up capacity and strategise rapid response to the pandemic.

    The Lawmaker expressed worry over the rising spate of unexplained deaths in Kano State in recent weeks, where 77 COVID-19 confirmed cases had been recorded.

    According to him, Kano State being the most populated state of the federation, according to the National Population Commission has only one testing centre.

    The lawmaker said that the centre had been shut down for about a week now, reportedly due to lack of some testing materials and reagents.

    He expressed concern that Nigeria had so far tested 10,918 of its estimated 200 million population whereas Ghana, South Africa and Egypt with much lower population had tested 168,643, 100,622, and 90,000 of their people respectively.

    Doguwa said that Nigeria currently has a capacity for 3,000 tests in a day whereas South Africa has nearly 10,000 tests capacity per day.

    READ ALSO: Reps To Resume Plenary On April 28

    He said that Nigeria has only 15 testing centers one each in Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Osun, Edo, and Ebonyi State, two in the FCT and three in Lagos state.

    “Conscious of the fact that whereas sample collection and transportation remain in a critical challenge in Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19 according to NCDC, Ghana has since engaged the services of drone technology in the delivery of samples to help save lives more quickly and drones also have the capacity to deliver test kits and personal protection equipment.

    “Convinced of the urgent need to arrest the rising cases of unexplained deaths in Kano state and also scale up national response to the Coronavirus pandemic, including the establishment of at least one testing centre in every state of the Federation to save the nation from the grave scenario being witnessed in Kano State.

    “Summon the DG NCDC, Honourable Minister of Health, and the Chairman of the Presidential Task force to appear before the House at plenary on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 to brief it on government’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and its template for the intervention in all the states of the Federation,’’ he said.

    The House urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency and priority scale up the nation’s COVID-19 testing capacity.

    The lawmakers urged the NCDC to adopt creatively proactive modern approaches and technologies in the management of COVID-19 pandemic

    The green chamber also called for the establishment of a testing centre in each Local Government Area of the Federation.

    The lower chamber also recommended the inclusion of religious and traditional leaders in creating awareness in local communities.

    In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbejabiamila approved an investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the unexplained huge number of deaths in Kano State.

    NAN

  • Men Constitute Majority Of Over 6,000 Tested For COVID-19 In Nigeria – NCDC

    Men Constitute Majority Of Over 6,000 Tested For COVID-19 In Nigeria – NCDC

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says of the 6,649 people tested for the Coronavirus (COVID-19), nationwide, there were more males than females.

    Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General (DG) of NCDC, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Abuja.

    Iheakweazu said NCDC data revealed that of the 6,649 suspected cases tested for the disease, 71 per cent were males, while females made up just 21 per cent of the total number.

    He said of the sources of cases, 210 had travel history, 129 were contacts of confirmed cases, 11 infected by unknown sources, while 92 still had incomplete epidemiological information.

    He disclosed that in the last 24 hours, 35 new confirmed cases were reported bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 442.

    “No new case has been reported from any state in the last 24 hours, as the number of states with confirmed cases remains 19, including the Federal Capital Territory.

    READ ALSO: NCDC Establishes 7 Testing Labs In Seventeen Days

    According to the NCDC DG, the agency continues to respond to the pandemic across the country and has prioritised the distribution of Viral Transport Medium (VTM), to all the states and FCT, for sample collection.

    He also said that the deployment of COVID-19 starter packs to all tertiary institutions and the federal medical centres, was in progress.

    Iheakweazu further said the NCDC had fully set up expanded laboratory network for COVID-19 across the six geopolitical zones, with 13 laboratories activated.

    He, however, said that the deployment of Rapid Response Team (RRT), to support response in all states with confirmed case(s) stood at 22.

    “All education materials can be found via www.covid19.ncdc.gov.ng,” he stated.

    NAN reports that the country’s active cases currently stand at 277, with majority in stable condition.

  • COVID-19: 29 Quarantined In Anambra

    COVID-19: 29 Quarantined In Anambra

    The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala, has disclosed that 29 persons who made contact with the COVID-19 index case in the state have been traced and quarantined.

    They comprise of health workers, relations and business associates of the index case.

    Addressing journalists in Awka, on Monday, the commissioner said that it took the COVID-19 response team seven hours from Friday night to the early hours of Saturday morning to get the index case after the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) contacted the State Government to reveal that a case had been registered in Anambra State.

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    He said: “I went with the team to places I ordinarily would not go at that time of the night, and I knocked on a lot of doors to wake people up from sleep to ask about the individual.

    “Contact tracing is on vigorously, and we have 29 persons who are contacts of the index case, and they include medical personnel at the hospital where he was being previously managed, his relatives and business associates. Those traced are being closely monitored now.”

    Okpala stated that the hospital where the index case had previously received treatment has been fumigated, adding that people can feel free to use the facility.

  • Coronavirus: Consuming Lemon, Garlic, Ginger, Dettol Does Not Protect Against Disease – NCDC

    Coronavirus: Consuming Lemon, Garlic, Ginger, Dettol Does Not Protect Against Disease – NCDC

    The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has debunked certain myths going round in the social media as to what can cure or protect people from the Coronavirus disease.

    The NCDC in a post on its Twitter account warned that the consumption of lemon, ginger, garlic, palm oil doesn’t protect or prevent against Coronavirus.

    It also stated that drinking or spraying of dettol all over ones body doesn’t kill Coronavirus.

    The tweet read: “Beware of unverified messages on social media!

    These DO NOT protect against #COVID19:
    *Consuming hot lemon, palm oil, ginger or garlic
    *Gargling with salt water
    *Drinking or spraying dettol on your body.”

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: Nigeria’s Case Increases To 135

    #TakeResponsibility
    #WashYourHands
    #StayAtHome

    In a related post, the centre also distanced itself from some Instagram accounts claiming to be its official accounts.

    “We are aware of Instagram accounts claiming to be “official account of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control .

    “These are NOT affiliated with NCDC. We are working with Instagram to open a verified account on the platform .

    “ Our verified handles: @NCDCgov on Twitter & Facebook.”

  • Tinubu Donates N200m To Fight Coronavirus

    Tinubu Donates N200m To Fight Coronavirus

    The National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has made a donation of N200 million to support efforts in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

    The former Governor of Lagos State, announced the donation on his twitter handle on Sunday, saying that the donation would go to the Lagos State Government and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to battle the scourge in the country.

    He lamented that the pandemic disrupted his annual birthday celebration, which was usually accompanied by a colloquium.

    The tweet read: “Today, but for COVID-19 we would, as we have done for the last twelve years, have celebrated this day with the Bola Tinubu Colloquium. This year we could not but by God’s grace we will do so again.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: 43 Nigerian Ministers Donate 50% Of Their March Salaries

    “The circumstances this year prevent us from gathering together to celebrate my birthday, but I would still like to mark the occasion.

    “That is why I have chosen today to announce that I will be making a donation of N200 million to fight this deadly virus.

    “In pursuant to this pledge, N100 million will be made available to the government of Lagos State and another N100 million to NCDC to support their efforts in fighting the scourge of COVID-19

    “Together, we will overcome this terrible disease.”