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Covid-19: Only 526 Active Cases In FCT

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
muhammad-musa-bello
FCT Minister, Nigeria

…As NCDC, FCTA Reviews Number of Discharge Active Cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday hinted that only 526 cases of Covid-19 are now on admission in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

The new figures were published on the official website of the NCDC as at 12 noon on Friday, September 18, 2020.

This follows the reconciliation of figures by officials of the NCDC and FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat over the weekend.

Briefing newsmen on the issue, the Acting Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Mohammed Kawu said after release of new guidelines on discharge from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat adopted the criteria to be able to discharge the high number of active cases in the Community.

He , however, noted that, the reconciliation became necessary in order to put to rest the disparity of figures between the NCDC and FCT Administration in respect of the actual number of active cases in the nation’s capital.

According to him , to improve Sample collection during the lockdown period, FCT commenced Active Case Search and Community testing based on available data of confirmed cases.

He stated that with increasing volume of tests in the FCT including persons of interest (POIs), majority refused admission into the treatment Centres, resulting in large numbers of confirmed cases in the Community. These cases continue to contribute to large numbers of active cases being reflected in the FCT Statistics.

According to him; “Based on new guidelines on discharge from NCDC including discharge of active cases in the Community, FCT adopted the criteria to be able to discharge the high number of active cases in the Community.

Out of a total of 5461 COVID – 19 cases as at 13th September, 2024 were admitted in the various treatment centers with 1925 discharged and 36 deaths while 64 were still on admission. An additional 38 deaths were recorded outside the treatment centres. Leaving a total of 3462 cases considered to be active.”

“Also, based on our finding and in line with the NCDC guideline for community discharge, the FCT has actually discharged 2967 cases (2958 alive & well + 9 Deaths) from the community. Therefore, as at 13th September 2020, FCT has only 495 active cases of COVID-19.

Kawu added that “on the basis of the new NCDC discharge criteria, we consider all cases that are 3 weeks or more from the date of confirmation to be inactive and discharged from the COVID-19 pathway. That way, we were able to separate the difference between those cases that were actually treated in our Isolation centres and those who remained in the community for more than three weeks after confirmation”.

With this development, the NCDC website indicates that Lagos now has the highest number of active COVID-19 cases with 3,318 followed by Oyo 1,085, Plateau is third with 922 while FCT now occupies the fourth position on the table with 526 active cases.

JOHESU Suspends Seven Days Warning Strike

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

The Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU has suspended its seven days warning strike.

This was contained in a statement signed by its National Chairman Comrade Josiah Biobelemoye and made available to journalists in Abuja.

The statement reads that the nation wide strike embarked upon by the health workers will be suspended by midnight of 20th September, 2020.

According to the statement , all health workers under the five Unions that make up Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) shall return to work on Monday, 21st September, 2020 across all Federal Health Institutions in the country.

The statement reads in bits; “The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has continued to exhibit high level of bias/discrimination by refusing to address the demands of its members as presented by JOHESU within the seven days of the warning strike as was done to other bodies in the health sector, the next line of action would be decided in due course by the expanded National Executive Council of JOHESU.

” That rather than call JOHESU for dialogue to resolve the trade dispute, the Federal Government has resorted to intimidation and blackmail of JOHESU leaders using all forms of instruments and faceless organisations.”

JOHESU reiterated that it will continue to use all legitimate means to defend the rights and demands for the welfare of its members in the health sector.

It would be recalled that the Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU embarked on a seven day nation wide strike on the mid night of September 13, 2020 following federal government failure to meet up with its demands on some of its outstanding allowances.

FCTA, NAPTIP Sign MoU On Women Rehabilitation Centre

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

 

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the management of FCT Women Rehabilitation Centre located at Sabo-Lugbe in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the nation’s capital.  

Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, FCT Minister of State presided over the signing of the MoU called on both parties to respect the terms and conditions spelt out in the document, just as she revealed that the centre would be managed by NAPTIP for a period of two years.  

She, however, commended the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, for her doggedness in the battle against trafficking in person, also called for collaboration and synergy between relevant agencies in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.  

According to her; “I want to appreciate our sister, the Director General of NAPTIP, who is always there for the plight of the vulnerable women and youths, and anything against their fundamental human rights. She goes out of her comfort zone to ensure that none is maligned in the society. And today’s event has demonstrated her zeal to go out of her ways to look for more decent accommodation for our vulnerable women.  

“These are all the giant strides of a leader and we appreciate you and your team. Hopefully and sincerely, under this period of two years, all that is written here is legally binding on both parties. And as the custodial of state charged with the responsibility to oversee the signing of this document, I sincerely hope that today will mark the beginning of many beautiful things to come”, the minister affirmed.  

Aliyu also called on the management of NAPTIP to ensure that the facility becomes a point to reckon with in the management of vulnerable women and youth, while praying that the facility would provides the needed shelter to all those in need.  

Earlier, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, for their support in matters relating to trafficking in person and other related offences.  

She, however, assured the FCT Administration that the collaboration between the two parties would yield positive results, stressing that the centre would be a beckon of women rehabilitation and empowerment.  

Her words ; “You have been very supportive to our agency. I want to assure you of this existing synergy and collaboration between my agency and FCTA, is going to be bigger and better and we are not going to take it for granted.  

“I also want to thank you for giving us the opportunity of getting to this stage of signing an MoU. Thank you for giving us a facility where women will be rehabilitated and empowered, where children of victims of trafficking, victims of sexual and gender based violence will be empowered and rehabilitated.

She further hunted that it is going to be a joint collaboration between FCTA and NAPTIP. While assuring that we are going to make good use of the facility”.  

FCTA Launches Attack On Illegal Signages Promoters

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Federal Capital Territory  Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday revealed that , it has commenced total removal of illegal signage and outdoor advertisement infrastructures within the nation’s capital, while adding that, it will also prosecute those who promotes them.

Dr Babagana Adam , the Director, Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signages (DOAS) , gave this revelation on Wednesday in Abuja, saying, already about 2,747 of such have been evacuated from different parts of the city.

He stated that, while residents and business promoters have refused to comply with international standard required in outdoor advertising,  the agency has intensified efforts towards sanitizing the city and ensuring that all conforms to the city’s masterplan.

He , however, warned private companies or corporate organizations that litter the streets with all manner of advert materials under the guise of  cooperate social responsibility packages .

DOAS boss further stated that, the agency will no longer allow the proliferation of kiosks with whatever name, as well as uninformed signages, as it is clear  violation of global standards.

Adam hinted that, DOAShad also commenced redesigning of streets and major high ways signages within the city centre to ensure standardization and environmental protection.

His words; “We have install 36 signages in the city, 2, 747 illegal ones have been removed. This is to help bring about standardization, regulations and environmental control.

“The department is not against anyone’s progress but to ensure that things are put in place for the good of all” he said.

Covid-19: Over 41,000 Health Workers Have Been Infected , Moeti

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
Moeti
WHO Regional Director for Africa

…As WHO Celebrates 2020
World Patient Safety Day

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organisation (WHO) said in the WHO African Region, over 41,000 health workers have been infected with COVID-19, accounting for 3.8% of all reported cases.

She added that, Front-line health workers are at greater risk of infection because of the care they provide to patients.

Moeti made this known in her message to commemorate the 2020 World Patient Safety day, saying, Some countries, like Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire have made progress in reducing the proportion of health worker infections.

Others such as Eritrea, Rwanda and Seychelles have not recorded a single case of COVID-19 among health workers. 

According to her; “On 17 September, we celebrate World Patient Safety Day because to realize quality health care, the first step is to do no harm, yet in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries globally, every year, there are 134 million adverse events due to unsafe care, contributing to 2.6 million lives lost.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed that to keep patients safe, health workers must be protected, and so this year’s theme is Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety.

“To protect health workers from COVID-19 and contribute to enhanced patient safety, in collaboration with partners and national and provincial authorities, WHO has trained more than 50 000 health workers in the African Region in infection prevention and control, with plans to train over 200 000 more. Around 31 million items of personal protective equipment have been shipped to Member States and guidance documents on best care practices are in-development, to support the creation of enabling environments for safe health workers and safe patients”.

Moeti added that, often the solutions to enhance patient safety are simple and cost effective. For example, after a Quality Management Unit was established in Sierra Leone, deaths among children in 13 high burden hospitals dropped from 15.6% in 2017 to 9.6% in 2019. 

Patient safety is an essential component in strengthening health systems to achieve universal health coverage, and achieving it requires collaboration and open communication between multidisciplinary health-care teams, patients and patients’ organizations, professional associations and other stakeholders. 

Action is needed to understand the magnitude of patient harm, including through transparent incident reporting to learn from mistakes with no-fault and no-blame handling of adverse events.

Patients and their families must be enabled to take preventive, systematic measures to participate in improving the safety of care and to reduce risks to all individuals, with special attention to at-risk groups, including people with disabilities and older people.

By pursuing patient-centred policies, redesigning processes, ramping-up hygiene practices and transforming organizational cultures, health care can be made safer.

She called on all of us to work together to protect health workers, so they can protect patients, in supportive, enabling environments for the delivery of quality health care. 

Adigwe Decries Lack Of Funding, Capacity Building For Herbal Medicine Practitioners

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Director General , Dr. Obi Adigwe, has revealed that, funding and capacity building have not been robustly and comprehensively engaged on in discussions relating to herbal medicine and development strategy.

He added that, critical issue about the development of herbal medicine in Nigeria is that practitioners who require support in terms of investment.

He gave this revelation at a three-day conference which was held both physically and virtually in Osogbo, Osun State.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja noted that the conference was part of efforts of the NIPRD to step up its capacity building mandate by organising a grass roots training for phytomedicinal practitioners aimed at improving access to health and stimulating socio-economic development.

According to him, what NIPRD has decided to do was to take the phytomedicines development strategy down to the grassroots.

He, however, stated that the seven objectives the institute wanted to achieve by organising the conference included increasing the awareness of policy makers, political office holders, investors and development partners about the importance and potential of the phytomedicines sector. “The second thing is that we want to build the capacity of the phytomedicinal practitioners themselves.

“We want to build their capacity, we want to teach them how to harvest plants, teach them how to document their practices, teach them the importance of research and development in their activities, teach them how to apply for NAFDAC listing, and teach them how to partner with people in terms of bringing their products forward for marketing,” Adigwe explained.

The NIPRD Director General also stated that his institute have concluded plans to select five products from Osun state at the end of the programme that it can take to the next level.

“Products that can have NAFDAC listing that can earn revenue for the practitioners and the Government, and which would consequently contribute to the socioeconomic development of this country.” he said

Speaking on the development activities of the Institute, Adigwe said his organisation had successfully brought Research and Development to the fore of this country.

“We also ensured that products made in Nigeria are prioritised, when it comes to manufacturing of sanitiser, production of sickle cell drugs among others.

“We have also spearheaded the articulation in policies which encourage us to look inwards, strategies that encourage development of home-grown solutions have now been brought to the fore” he stated.

Covid-19 Virus Has Humbled Nations, Ehanire

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health

 

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of most health systems across the globe.
Ehanire, made this known in his message to mark the ‘World Patient Safety Day,’ on Thursday in Abuja , noting that the pandemic also bared the deficits in infrastructure, equipment, manpower and management, stressing that the situation has humbled even those thought to be the most robust.
 The World “Patient Safety Day” was set aside in May 2019 by the World Health Assembly Resolution 72.6 on the subject “Global action on Patient Safety”, to recognise and highlight the safety of patients as a global health priority.
The theme for this year is “Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety”, with the slogan “Safe health workers, safe patients.”
He said the theme is apt, as it fit the prevailing sentiment of the day defined by the covid-19 pandemic, and the heroic role healthcare workers at the frontlines have played, to keep everyone safe.
The Minister also added that the fatigue of overburdened care providers and the psychosocial impact of covid19 on both patients and caregivers were apparent in this period, as “They work odd hours, suffer discomfort, stigma, risk infection and even their lives. Nigeria is among dozens of countries in the world who have lost health workers to COVID-19.”
He said it is only fair that global attention and emphasis should be on the importance of safety for all health workers, especially those engaged in the COVID-19 response.
“Since only healthy and safe health workers can provide care and safety to patients, the Government of Nigeria made it a point of duty to ramp up training of health workers in infection prevention and control and supplied barrier personal protective equipment to avoid virus transmission and risk to our staff. Infected healthcare workers would face quarantine, which could mean manpower shortage and interrupt essential healthcare services.
“Despite all our sacrifices, more will be expected of us who have signed up for the healthcare profession. We shall be reminded that we have committed to serve humanity and that the lives and wellbeing of our patients are in our hands. In truth, ours is the noble profession, where the responsibility we are given for the lives of others  or for the others who have entrusted their lives to us, begins with ensuring that they are safe in our care, no matter the cost to us. It must be an article of faith.
“The Federal Ministry of Health will work on creating a specific policy on patient safety. However, the National Health Act (2014) and Patients’ Bill of Rights (2018) advocate for the safety of patients, and aspects of it are also reflected in such guidelines and measures for infection prevention and control as injection safety, firm perioperative protocols, radiation protection and pharmacovigilance.These are building blocks for consolidation into a single ‘Patient Safety Policy.”
The Minister called on all stakeholders to support the Federal Ministry of Health in ensuring the safety of health workers and patients.

COVID-19: 700, 000 Households Are Vulnerable In FCT, Report

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

 …As CSOs Score FCTA High On Palliative Distributions  

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has identified over 700, 000 vulnerable households in the territory.

Just as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) scored the administration high on the palliative distribution to vulnerable members of the nation’s capital.  

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, this was made possible with the validation of the social register.

She made this known during the presentation of a scorecard of the palliative distribution by a coalition of COVID-19 Civil Society Organisations Emergency Intervention Group, however, acknowledged that there was more that meet the eyes during the palliative exercise.  

According to her; the scorecard would further guide the action of the administration especially during emergency situations, adding that the administration would not wait for any emergency before reaching out to the vulnerables 

Commending the Civil Society Organisations, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Youths and other stakeholders in joining hands to make the exercise a success, the minister also noted that the COVID-19 brought the real function of a mother to bear.  

She hinted that ; “During the very tough and trying period of COVID-19 pandemic, I will confess to you that it seems things have fallen apart, and the centre could not hold. Fortunately for us, we had able bodied men and women who defied all odds and show willingness to work. Honestly speaking, people may ask how much were you paid. It was done pro bono, no budget line, but you were willing to risk it across to the targeted beneficiaries.  
“We draw up our template, and a more encompassing and more reaching template with men and women of the civil society organisations and put concerted efforts to ensure that they were in all places in all the committees.  

“Many at times when you work and put in the best you can, you are not in the best position to score yourself. We are proud to say indeed some people out there did not only go out to distribute the palliative, but also make efforts to look into what we were doing without fear or favour and scored us as it is. This to you is a scorecard, but to me it is a validation of my dreams.

She continued; “This can serve as a guide to what we need to do further. With the pandemic in place, we were able to work harder, we found that the social register was validated. Today, we have over 700, 000 vulnerable households, because during the time of the pandemic, we used the definition of vulnerability to mean the very poor in the hinterland, those that are not earning anything from government revenue and without a source of income.  

“But later, it was clear to us that there is more that meet the eyes. Even the so called salary earners become vulnerable due to COVID-19 and the pressure of the lockdown. And that brought about the new template. God’s willing, we can boast that the Federal Capital Territory is used as a standard to other states”.  

On his part, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, thanked the civil society groups for not abandoning the administration in times of need, stressing that the report would not only inspire the Minister of State, but also the entire administration.  

Adesina, however, harped on team work saying; “We must join hands together to build the territory of our dreams. You cannot walk with one leg, but you need the two legs to walk. If you have abandoned the distribution of the palliative, nobody would have believed that palliative was distributed because we  live in an era where nobody believes anything. But you are our testimonial, you have spoken”.  

In her presentation, the National Coordinator, COVID-19 CSOs Emergency Intervention Group, Dr. Jophia Nanker Gupar, said though, the palliative did not get to everybody, but every community in the territory received the palliative.  

She thanked the administration for the opportunity to serve the rural people and to participate especially in an intervention programmes like the COVID-19 pandemic.    

Updated: NLC gives FG two weeks to reverse increases in electricity tariff, fuel price

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0
NLC-President-Comrade-Ayuba-Wabba.
NLC-President-Comrade-Ayuba-Wabba.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to reverse the recent increase in electricity tariffs and fuel price hike or the union may be forced to embark on indefinite industrial action and mass protests.

The decision was reached at the end of the Congress’ National Administrative Council (NAC) and Central Working Committee (CWC) meetings of the Labour union in Abuja on Wednesday.

Briefing journalists at the end of the congress, NLC President , Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the union resolved that the increase in both petroleum products and electricity tariff have had adverse effects on the citizenry and should be returned to status quo in the interest of the masses.

It would be recalled that , the Trade Union Congress (TUC) through its President Quadri Olaleye, had on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum and threatened to mobilize for strike next week Wednesday if the Federal Government does not reverse the increases.

A meeting between the Federal Government and organized labour at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday to find common ground, ended in a stalemate as the Unions disagreed with the Federal Government, stressing the increases are a burden on Nigerian workers even as government insisted the hikes were necessary.

President of the NLC, aacondemned the fixing of prices of electricity and petrol without consultations with Nigerians, which he said have erased the gains of the minimum wage of N30, 000 signed into law by President Muhammad.

The NLC President blamed Federal Government for “transferring the “inefficiency in the subsidy regime” to the consumers which they have to pay through hike in price even as he urged the government to fix the nation’s refineries and stop the corruption inherent in the subsidy regime.

However, the government delegation led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, during the tripartite dialogue with organized labour in Abuja on Tuesday, reeled out figures which it said makes the continuation of subsidy a risk to the economy.

In the electricity tariff, the Government explained that N1.5 + trillion has been spent on subsidizing the sector since 2015, adding that the subsidy cost the Government N12 billion+ per week and N50 billion per month.

“The subsidy is a regressive subsidy as 60%of the subsidy goes to the top 10% of the population; more than 80 million Nigerians have no access to electricity and do not enjoy this subsidy,” it said.

The government said it has set aside N380 billion for the tariff subsidy in 2020 with the intent to transition subsidy to cover the poor and underprivileged.

NERC designed a service based tariff where payment is linked to better service with DISCos to own consultations with their customers; only those receiving 12 hours plus of power are experiencing increase.

“75% of the population will not be impacted by any tariff increase, Government will continue to subsidize and prioritize this population (including the poor on R1) with N400 plus billions,” the government said.

On the much controversial fuel subsidy, the government delegation said “Fuel subsidies have over the years undermined private and Public investment in the downstream sector.

“PMS subsidy reduces payment of FAAC and states allocation, leading to inability of many states to pay workers salary and develop their states.

“Government lost billions of naira every day to subsidize payment which could have been used in improving the well being of ordinary Nigerians and rebuilding the economy to generate more employment.” The Federal government said.

It added that subsidy payments to marketers were a major source of corruption and underhand dealings in the downstream oil and gas industry even as it lamented that this was one of the reasons of no new investment Refinery in Nigeria for over forty years.

The government said fuel subsidy was, responsible for restricted growth along the value chain and consequent lack of employment and revenue generation.

FG To Commence More Rail line Projects Across The Country

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

By Ekaette Ibuot

The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said that the Federal Government will soon commence more rail line projects across the country in addition to the ongoing Lagos- Ibadan railway project.

Amaechi made this Known in Ibadan at the inspection tour of the Lagos- Ibadan rail line project.

Amaechi said the project will kick start once approval is gotten from the Federal Executive Council to commence construction of three major railway projects which include Kano- Maladi, Port-Harcourt -Maiduguri and Lagos-Calabar railway.

While assuring that the December deadline for the completion of the Lagos- Ibadan rail project remains sacrosanct as the project is gradually winding up considering the level of work done.

In addition, he said more engineers have been employed from China who will help in speedy completion of the project after observing self isolation

According to him; “We are also pursing the loan for the contract which has been awarded for the Lagos to Calabar.

” We also expect that ibadan to kano will commence before the end of this year.”

Speaking on the level of work done, he
expressed satisfaction, but charged the contractors to do more as time is of essence. He said that the project will be completed by December despite a compulsory break caused by the civic 19 pandemic.

On the completion he said; “They have given us the following target- end of September, three stations will be ready, end of October, all the minor stations will be ready, end of December, everything will be ready. They are still keeping to the target of December.

” The only one they are afraid of is Apapa station because they started very late. But l am insisting that Apapa should be completed at the same time as the rest and i have told them to set up a task force just for Apapa alone and i will come by end of September to see for myself how far they have gone,” he stated

Fielding questions from journalists on the recent train accident in Lagos that claimed one life, and the alleged attack on the Abuja bound train from Kaduna, the Minister expressed regret over the loss of life but cautioned that Nigerians must be made to respect the right of way for trains or be made to face the law.

He said that; “its unfortunate that there is a loss of life. The governor and I have agreed that lagosains know that the train track is not a market. when we start running, they need to give way to the track.

” It is not true that the train was attacked in Abuja. Leave this social media propagandists alone. Young boys threw stones at d train near kubwa and broke a glass and they stopped and arrested them. Why is it always the train was shot at and someone was injured. Why is it not someone died. No body is asking why the bullets only select wounds and not deaths. These are just mischief makers repeating the same story”.

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