TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has said that Clinical trials are underway to evaluate the effectiveness of using plasma from the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients to reduce the severity of illness among people infected with COVID-19.

Adding that, this approach was used by Guinea in the Ebola epidemic in 2014, prior to the availability of Ebola vaccines and therapies.

She made this known in her message to commemorate the 2020 World Blood Donor Day, saying, blood donors give the gift of life, and more lives will be saved if more people volunteer to donate blood on a regular basis.

This year we are calling on people to “give blood and make the world a healthier place” because by regularly volunteering to donate blood, we can all contribute to solidarity and saving lives.

She added that, ” Safe blood is a critical resource in severe infant anaemia, postpartum hemorrhage and trauma care. It is also vital in surgeries and the treatment of malaria, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, inherited blood disorders, and AIDS.

“In the COVID-19 pandemic, the supply of safe blood is at risk. Regular blood donation drives are being postponed, and stay-at-home orders and fear of infection are preventing donors from accessing services. Disruptions to the global supply chain also put countries at risk of shortages of critical supplies and equipment needed for blood donation and transfusion.

She continued: “In Mauritius, 150 people who have recovered from COVID-19 have indicated they are willing to give plasma in line with the national decision to use serum plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients in intensive care”.

She further stated that the biggest challenge with this approach in many African countries, is the insufficient resources of national blood services to safely collect, process and store COVID-19 convalescent plasma in a quality-assured manner. However, the current pandemic is also an opportunity to improve this situation. Kenya, for instance, has allocated a portion of funding from the World Bank specifically to improving blood services during the pandemic.

Universal access to safe blood is a key component of a resilient health system and contributes to achieving universal health coverage. In the African Region, countries are making progress in improving access to quality-assured blood and blood products. In 2019, eight countries collected 10 units or more per 1000 population as recommended by WHO and 19 countries reached the target of over 80% voluntary non-remunerated blood donations in line with the regional strategy for blood safety.

At WHO, we are also exploring partnerships with Facebook to set-up a regional Blood Donations feature, and 15 countries have expressed interest in piloting this tool. The feature connects blood donors with nearby opportunities to donate in collaboration with approved blood banks.

In closing, this World Blood Donor Day, I urge governments, in collaboration with blood donor associations and nongovernment organizations, to increase investment in blood transfusion services in line with WHO guidance.

She thanked all voluntary, unpaid blood donors for the life-saving gifts they offer to communities and all the phlebotomists and other health workers who contribute to blood donation and transfusion services – because of your commitment, safe blood saves lives.

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF brief has report that, Millions more children risk being pushed into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

This, according to the brief could lead to the first rise in child labour after 20 years of progress.

According to COVID-19 and child labour: A time of crisis, a time to act , child labour decreased by 94 million since 2000, but that gain is now at risk.

Saying, global estimates in 2017 showed that 152 million children were in child labour worldwide.

Children already in child labour may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions, the report says. More of them may be forced into the worst forms of labour, which causes significant harm to their health and safety.

“As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour.”

Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General hinted that; “As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour”

“Social protection is vital in times of crisis, as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable. Integrating child labour concerns across broader policies for education, social protection, justice, labour markets, and international human and labour rights makes a critical difference.”

According to the brief, COVID-19 could result in a rise in poverty and therefore to an increase in child labour as households use every available means to survive. Some studies show that a one percentage point rise in poverty leads to at least a 0.7 per cent increase in child labour in certain countries.

However, the UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said; “In times of crisis, child labour becomes a coping mechanism for many families”

“As poverty rises, schools close and the availability of social services decreases, more children are pushed into the workforce. As we re-imagine the world post-COVID, we need to make sure that children and their families have the tools they need to weather similar storms in the future. Quality education, social protection services and better economic opportunities can be game changers.”

“As poverty rises, schools close and the availability of social services decreases, more children are pushed into the workforce.”

Vulnerable population groups – such as those working in the informal economy and migrant workers – will suffer most from economic downturn, increased informality and unemployment, the general fall in living standards, health shocks and insufficient social protection systems, among other pressures.

Evidence is gradually mounting that child labour is rising as schools close during the pandemic. Temporary school closures are currently affecting more than 1 billion learners in over 130 countries. Even when classes restart, some parents may no longer be able to afford to send their children to school.

As a result, more children could be forced into exploitative and hazardous jobs. Gender inequalities may grow more acute, with girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation in agriculture and domestic work, the brief says.

The brief proposes a number of measures to counter the threat of increased child labour, including more comprehensive social protection, easier access to credit for poor households, the promotion of decent work for adults, measures to get children back into school, including the elimination of school fees, and more resources for labour inspections and law enforcement.

ILO and UNICEF are developing a simulation model to look at the impact of COVID-19 on child labour globally. New global estimates on child labour will be released in 2021.

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for delivering the dividend of democracy to Nigerians.

While urging Nigerians to work together for the unity and advancement of the country, enjoining them to be more patriotic.

He made this commendation in his message to mark the 2020 Democracy day, while assuring Nigerians that the administration of President Buhari would continue to work assiduously to improve the lives of the citizens.

According to him, “The administration of President Buhari essentially had three focal points when it came on board, which was to diversify the economy, to create jobs and to increase government revenue generation. On this three points, this administration has done well,’ he said.

He added that the administration is currently using the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, as well as Agriculture to diversify the economy. ‘This is why contributions from Mines and Steel sector to the GDP has improved since this administration came on board.’

Adegbite also noted that the social Investment programs embarked upon by Buhari’s administration had created jobs for the youths. ’Just recently the Minister of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, revealed that over 473,000 youths have enrolled for the N-power Scheme. As you all know the N-Power Graduate Programme is Federal Government’s direct intervention to tackle youth unemployment and to re-energize public service delivery in four key sectors, which are, education, agriculture, health and tax,’ he said.

He further stated that the president had also improved the state of security in the nation by tackling the insurgency in the North. ‘It can only get better from here. However, we all have our parts to play as patriotic citizens. If we all resolve individually to do the right thing, then we will have the Nigeria of our dreams.’

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that Nigeria has potential reserves of 200 million ounces of gold and that the launch of the expansive project, Dukia Gold, would create new opportunities for Nigeria to mine her gold reserves properly, trade responsibly and refine locally.

Vice President made this know at a virtual commissioning of the Dukia Gold and Precious Metals Project project on Tuesday in Abuja.

He hinted that, “The Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refinery Project, championed by the High Commissions of Nigeria and Canada, has been seven years in the making and it is my pleasure to see that the project is ready to begin operations”.

According to him, “the Dukia Gold project would encourage the emergence of smaller-scale mining companies who, for the first time, would have a transparent and welcoming market for their mined gold and precious metals. This, he said would create jobs and unleash the economic potential of mining communities.

He stated that,“will create primary employment for local artisanal miners and mining cooperatives across the solid minerals value chain. Off-take agreements between Dukia Gold and local mining communities and owners of recyclable gold will be a useful provider of jobs in our post-covid economy.”

The Vice President also commissioned the nationwide Dukia-Heritage Bank Gold and Precious Metals Buying Centres which is part of a valuable private sector collaboration.

The buying centre is to provide a sustainable way for Nigerians to exchange their gold jewellery and other precious items for cash. “This system of exchange not only helps encourage a culture of recycling, but will also serve as a complementary source for the raw materials needed for the Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company”, he added.

Osinbajo , however, promised that the Federal Government would provide support and facilitate policies that would ensure successful deployment, implementation, and sustainable operations of the Dukia Gold Project as well as continuous support of the mining sector.

Earlier, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, in his remarks, said the launch of Dukia-Heritage Bank Gold and Precious Metals Buying Centres is a testament of the unwavering effort of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to serve as a business friendly regulator, providing the enabling environment for business to thrive.

Adegbite hinted that the Buying Centre Initiative (BCI) would bring about efficiency and transparency to physical trading and transactions of mineral commodities.

According to him, “buying centre with minimum guaranteed price thresholds also ensures that Artisanal miners receive the right pricing for their goods relative to illegal off takers” This, he believed, would break the status quo of illegal mining and increasing royalty revenue accrual to the federal government.

He further added that in line with President’s mandates to diversify the economy, create jobs and increase revenue generation, the Minister said his ministry has licensed two gold refineries and has equally been creating a conducive fiscal and regulatory enabling environment for them to thrive. “We expect that these two refineries will create ample employment opportunities in the downstream sector and in the gold value chain.

“Dukia is one of the two duly licensed gold refiners in Nigeria. They have developed an encompassing ecosystem, consisting of nationwide DukiaHB Buying Centres alongside the virtual Purchasing Platform, that together form an integral centre-piece.”

“This initiative by Dukia and Heritage bank is the beginning of a seamless integration between the mining and banking sectors, which needs to be encouraged and applauded,” he emphasized.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Minister of State, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, said Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral resources waiting to be harnessed for economic development.

He commended the partnership between Dukia Gold and Heritage Bank and hopeful that it would serve as a success model for building strong private business conglomerates that would transform not only the gold value chain, but entire mineral sector into a global competitive mining destination of repute.

Also, the Managing Director of Dukia Gold, Bose Owolabi said the company would work with its refining partners and stakeholders to ensure that the project was fully implemented and met international standards. She added that the Heritage Bank Raw Materials Buying Centres would be opened at designated branches of the bank across the country as from Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company Limited which is located at the Abuja International Airport is set out to work with miners to ensure access to appropriate Plant, Machinery, Equipment, and support among others.