The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 248 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in fatalities to 143 deaths.
With the 248 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 4,399 cases, 778 recoveries, and 143 fatalities.
Breakdown of cases is shown below:
81-Lagos
35-Jigawa
26-Borno
26-Kano
20-Bauchi
13-FCT
12-Edo
10-Sokoto
7-Zamfara
4-Kwara
4-Kebbi
2-Gombe
2-Taraba
2-Ogun
2-Ekiti
1-Osun
1-Bayelsa
A report of COVID-19 cases in Lagos as recorded by the Lagos State Ministry of Health since the outbreak of the disease in the state, showed that Lagos Mainland has accounted for the highest number of infections in the state, with 541 cases.
The report disclosed on Twitter by the Ministry, on Friday, further revealed that Eti-Osa was the next after Mainland with 200 infections, while Mushin accounted for 138 cases.
Others are: Ikeja – 73, Alimosho – 69, Kosofe – 59, Apapa 55, Shomolu – 40, Amuwo Odofin – 35, and Oshodi/Isolo – 34.
The list also included Surulere – 31, Lagos Island – 30, Ibeju Lekki – 26, Afejoromi/Ifelodun – 18, Ikorodu 18, Agege – 13, Ifako/Ijaye – 12, Epe – 8, Badagry 5, and Ojo 4.
Lagos, which is the epicentre of COVID-19 in the country, has recorded a total of 1,764 cases out of the total virus figures of 4151 announced on Saturday night by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The state’s ministry of health also shared a graphical representation of the infections recorded across the LGAs in the state between April 7 and May 7, 2020, on Twitter, as displayed above.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 381 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in fatalities from 117 to 128.
With the 239 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 4,151 cases, 745 recoveries, and 107 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:20pm 9th May 2020, there are 4151 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
239 new cases of #COVID19 reported;
It also splitted the 239 new cases into states of occurrence as follows:
97-Lagos
44-Bauchi
29-Kano
19-Katsina
17-Borno
7-FCT
6-Kwara
5-Oyo
3-Kaduna
3-Sokoto
2-Adamawa
2-Kebbi
2-Plateau
2-Ogun
1-Ekiti
As cases of the novel Coronavirus continue to escalate in Nigeria, Africa, and the world as a whole, it is imperative to reiterate it to all our readers and advertisers that COVID-19 is real, and no one is immune to it. It is only adherence to preventive instructions from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as well as those from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that can safe anyone from contracting the disease.
Therefore, in agreement with the NCDC and WHO, We At Pharmanews Are Saying COVID-19 Is Real.Stay Safe, Observe Social Distancing, Maskup. We Love You.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 386 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in fatalities from 107 to 117 deaths.
With the 386 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 3,912 cases, 679 recoveries, and 117 deaths.
Analysing of the new cases according to states is as shown by:
176-Lagos
65-Kano
31-Katsina
20-FCT
17-Borno
15-Bauchi
14-Nasarawa
13-Ogun
10-Plateau
4-Oyo
4-Sokoto
4-Rivers
3-Kaduna
2-Edo
2-Ebonyi
2-Ondo
1-Enugu
1-Imo
1-Gombe
1-Osun
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that about 190,000 people in Africa could die of Coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic, if containment of the disease is not successful.
In a new study carried out by the agency’s regional office in Brazzaville, it was found that between 83,000 and 190,000 could die and 29 to 44 million be infected during the period. The research is based on prediction modelling and covers 47 countries with a total population of one billion.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that though the spread of the virus has been slow across the continent which has not yet recorded the soaring number of infections or deaths seen in Europe, the United States and other places, experts have consistently warned that Africa is particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, due to weak health infrastructure, high rates of poverty, numerous roiling conflicts and a proven susceptibility to previous epidemics.
The statement released by the UN agency on Thursday reads in part:
“The model predicts the observed slower rate of transmission, lower age of people with severe disease and lower mortality rates compared to what is seen in most affected countries of the world.
“The lower rate of transmission, however, suggests a more prolonged outbreak over a few years”.
WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti added:
“While COVID-19 likely won’t spread as exponentially in Africa as it has elsewhere in the world, it likely will smoulder in transmission hotspots”.
“COVID-19 could become a fixture in our lives for the next several years unless a proactive approach is taken by many governments in the region. We need to test, trace, isolate and treat”, he stat
ed.Africa has so far recorded 53,334 cases and 2,065 fatalities — out of a global death toll of nearly 267,000.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has announced the commencement of hydroxychloroquine clinical trial within the space of one week, saying it becomes imperative to do so, as the citizenry of each country have their own peculiarities.
Abayomi, who hinted that the outbreak of disease may climax within July and August in the state with 90,000 and 120, 000 cases, said the clinical trial is going to be in three dimensions, as it will test the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in protecting healthcare practitioners from contracting the infection; examine its effectiveness in protecting other high-risk people from developing the disease, and its general effects on COVID-19 patients.
The commissioner in a press briefing held at the government secretariat in Alausa on Friday said: “We are going to be receiving thousands of hydroxychloroquine tablets in the coming weeks and we are getting them from original manufacturers, along with other chalk tablets for placebo effects on patients. All these activities will start within the next one week”.
He said increase of cases in the state is due to decentralisation of testing centres, with Alimosho, Oshodi, and Isolo already having high record of the infection.
The Health Commissioner however debunked the news making the round that he tested positive to the infection, saying “I have not tested positive to COVID-19, as I have not tested myself recently, because I have not shown any symptoms, and if I develop any symptoms, I will be admitted to any of the isolation centres, like any other patient”.
Abayomi explained how they tested officials at Government House in Marina, and out of about 80 tests, 10 turned positive, and they are receiving treatment at the isolation centres in the state.
Speaking on the scar of COVID-19 in government healthcare facilities across the state, he emphasized how the government has reserved the 27 general hospitals in state for non-COVID-19 cases, as government does not intend to deprive citizens from accessing healthcare.
“We are preserving our 27 general hospitals for non-COVID-19 cases, because we don’t want patients to have issues accessing public healthcare facilities in the state. All public hospitals are available for patients to access, as we have put in place certain infection preventive facilities.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has also extended free treatment for other common ailments throughout the months of May, while each hospital now has COVID-19 Response Team, with selected isolation areas for suspected cases of the infection”, he briefed.
The Director of Human Resources of Yobe State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Muazu Brahji has died at the State Specialist Hospital Isolation Centre in Damaturu.
The deceased’s brother, Yau Ubaliyo Abubakar told news men that Brahji died after being taken to the isolation facility on Tuesday May 5.
He further revealed that Brahji died while awaiting the result of the Coronavirus test conducted on him.
Yobe is reported to be among states without a testing centre for COVID-19; most of the samples collected are taken to either Abuja or Borno for testing.
Towards the production of safe natural medicines for the treatment of COVID-19, and other ailments in Nigeria, herbal medicine practitioners, under the umbrella of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) have objected to the subjection of their formulations to the same clinical trial procedures as of orthodox medicines, claiming most of their active ingredients are food items.
The herbal practitioners and researchers, among whom were Prof. Maurice Iwu, professor of Pharmacognosy and CEO Bioresources Development Group; Dr Robert Uzu, CEO Ruzu Herbal Medicines; Dr Akintunde Ayeni, CEO Yemkem Int’l, Dr Ben Amodu, herbal farmer and researcher; Pharm.(Hajiya) Zainab Sheriff, former CEO of Nigerian Medicinal Plants Development Company, NMPDC, and others bared their minds during a virtual stakeholders meeting organised by the National Agency for Food and Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday.
NAFDAC DG, Professor Moji Adeyeye, the convener of the conference had expressed the concerns of the agency towards various claims put forth by herbal practitioners regarding the efficacy of their products, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that an herbal preparation can treat symptoms, does not mean it can cure the ailment.
Adeyeye, who maintained the position of the agency on safety of the populace, said for any herbal preparation to be listed as a treatment for Coronavirus, it must past some tests such as the “toxicity, expiration date, microbial content, trademark test, and others, while it also has to undergo clinical trials”.
She said: “Anyone that claims to have a preparation for COVID-19 must have got his product listed by NAFDAC. When it comes to medicines efficacy, we don’t want to subject people to undue danger, unless the herbalist can proof beyond doubt that the product is very safe.
“We have guided the Lagos State Government a great deal, as it regards to clinical trials, as they had to get guidelines from the hospitals they were using for treatment”, she stressed.
In his own contribution, the Director General, National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) Engr. Umar Buba Bindir, stated that the interest of his institution is to have safe products, that are not limited to use in Nigeria alone, but that can be sent abroad for the verification of its efficacy.
And for this to take place, he said, it requires the collaboration of everyone including herbalists, scientists, regulatory agencies, and governments at all levels.
Reacting to the NAFDAC DG’s point on clinical trials for natural medicines, Dr Amodu raised an observation on the need to boycott protocols and safe lives, as many are in need of their formulations in the country and even African to overcome COVID-19. “We need to cut off protocols at this time and safe lives. Many people need our help in Nigeria, African and the world”.
Also speaking in the same vein, Prof. Iwu said the situation in the country and in the world calls for special attention, as it is a warlike scenario. “We are in a war situation, registration guidelines can be abridged, and clinical trials are very expensive for herbal medicine practitioners to conduct”.
For Dr Uzu, who claimed his listed product is already being used to treat patients with positive results, the NAFDAC boss told him he is already in the clinic trial process, but he will need to get ethical clearance from the facilities he is using for the trial.
The NAFDAC Director of Drug Evaluation and Research, (D/DER) Dr Nwankwo highlighted the procedures for clinical trials stating that the use of one to three centres must obtain ethical clearance from institutions ethics committee, while trials that will be conducted at more than three centres will require clearance from National Health Research Ethics Committee.
She said NAFDAC can grants authorisation and expedited review process for trials in emergency situation, but candidates will obtain NAFDAC clinical trial form, while the duly completed form with other relevant documents are to be submitted to the D/DER.
In a related development, the Department of Traditional Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) of the Federal Ministry of Health had craved the indulgence of the NAFDAC DG for the listing of a natural cough medicine, it described as “Cov-herbal cough mixture, a formulation intended for the management of cough in COVID-19 and other cough related infections.
The FMoH claimed the medicinal plants used for preparation of Cov-herbal “have documented scientific evidence of long use for the management of cough and other respiratory infections, with medicinal properties of mucolytic, antitussive, expectorant, soothing, demulcent, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects”.
However, the agency is yet to respond to the mail, saying they will perform their regulatory duty accordingly.
The total number of deaths recorded from COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has reached 103 Pharmanewsonline reports.
According to the new data released on Wednesday night by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, it showed that there were 195 fresh cases of Coronavirus in the country, with deaths hitting over 100, put at 103 and total number of cases at 3145, with 534 discharged.
Announcing the Wednesday report, the NCDC through its Twitter handle said: “As at 12:02 6th May 2020, there are 3145 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria, 195 new cases, 103 deaths and 534 discharged”.
The new cases as divided into states of occurence are as follows:
82-Lagos
30-Kano
19-Zamfara
18-Sokoto
10-Borno
9-FCT
8-Oyo
5-Kebbi
5-Gombe
4-Ogun
3-Katsina
1-Kaduna
1-Adamawa
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has urged medical professionals to tread with caution in the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for clinical trial treatment of COVID-19 patients.
According to the agency: Serious heart-related adverse events in COVID-19 patients receiving chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine either alone or combined with azithromycin or other prolonging medicines have been reported. The adverse events of all these include QT interval prolongation, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and in some cases, death”.
In a statement signed by the management of the agency, it was stated that these complications are common among patients with underlying health issues.
NAFDAC has therefore warned all medical practitioners to ensure that patients receiving chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 are adequately monitored to detect, document and report Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of the medicines.
It also urged the medical practitioners to ensure that pre-existing heart conditions that can make patients to be more prone to heart rhythm problems are properly documented during clinical trials,
adding that they should report all concomitant medicines used in the management of COVID-19 during clinical trials including azithromycin.
Practitioners have also been implored to enlighten patients with COVID-19 on expected and unexpected ADRs that may be related with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to enable the patients report their experiences with the use of the medicines.
“Healthcare professionals and patients are to report adverse events related to use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine or any other drug to the nearest NAFDAC office,” the agency said.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has urged medical professionals to tread with caution in the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for clinical trial treatment of COVID-19 patients.
According to the agency: Serious heart-related adverse events in COVID-19 patients receiving chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine either alone or combined with azithromycin or other prolonging medicines have been reported. The adverse events of all these include QT interval prolongation, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and in some cases, death”.
In a statement signed by the management of the agency, it was stated that these complications are common among patients with underlying health issues.
NAFDAC has therefore warned all medical practitioners to ensure that patients receiving chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 are adequately monitored to detect, document and report Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of the medicines.
It also urged the medical practitioners to ensure that pre-existing heart conditions that can make patients to be more prone to heart rhythm problems are properly documented during clinical trials,.
adding that they should report all concomitant medicines used in the management of COVID-19 during clinical trials including azithromycin.
Practitioners have also been implored to enlighten patients with COVID-19 on expected and unexpected ADRs that may be related with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to enable the patients report their experiences with the use of the medicines.
“Healthcare professionals and patients are to report adverse events related to use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine or any other drug to the nearest NAFDAC office,” the agency said.
Calculate the amount of calamine required to prepare 60 g of a cream
containing 10% calamine, 15% zinc oxide, aqueous cream to 100 g:
A ❏ 4
B ❏ 5
C ❏ 6
D ❏ 7
E ❏ 8
Arcoxia is preferred to standard NSAIDs:
A in patients who have cardiac failure
B in patients who are at high risk of developing gastroduodenal ulcer
C in dysmenorrhoea
D when onset of pain relief is required immediately
E in patients with asthma
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 148 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 93 to 98 deaths.
With the 148 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 2950 cases, 481 recoveries, and 98 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:30pm 5th May 2020, there are 2950 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
148 new cases of #COVID19 reported;
It also splitted the 170 new cases into states of occurrence as follows:
43-Lagos
32-Kano
14-Zamfara
10-FCT
9-Katsina
7-Taraba
6-Borno
6-Ogun
5-Oyo
3-Edo
3-Kaduna
3-Bauchi
2-Adamawa
2-Gombe
1-Plateau
1-Sokoto
1-Kebbi
Respoding to the NCDC update, Dare loye via his Twitter handle advised Nigerians as he said: ” Coronavirus is real, either Scam or no scam in our country please people out there stay safe, use your face mask, sanitize and wash your hands regularly and always maintain social distancing.” @Dareloye
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved import waiver for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to support access to healthcare during the pandemic.
In addition to the import waiver, according to the disclosure made by the special assistant to the President on New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, President Muhammadu Buhari has also directed the Nigeria Customs Service to implement expedited clearing of all imported healthcare equipment, medical and pharmaceuticals supplies.
Ogunlesi, via his Twitter handle said: “President @MBuhari has approved a blanket waiver of import duties for medical equipment and supplies, as part of @NigeriaGov’s efforts to strengthen health infrastructure in response to the #COVID19 pandemic.
“In addition to the Import Waiver, President @MBuhari has directed @CustomsNG to implement expedited clearing of all imported healthcare equipment and medical and pharmaceutical supplies”.
In commemoration of World Asthma Day, managing director of New Heights Pharmaceuticals, Pharm. Ogheneochuko Omaruaye has warned that, unless there is an emergency, people living with asthma should temporarily stay away from public health hospitals.
He warned that common wheezing from an asthmatic patient could probably be misconstrued by people for the coughing symptom of COVID-19.
Speaking at an awareness programme on ‘Asthma and COVID-19 Pandemic’ organized by New Heights Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with Omron Nebulisers, the pharmacist stressed that most health facilities are currently overwhelmed with people coming for COVID-19 testing and other emergencies.
“At a time like this, we expect people with Asthma to collaborate with their healthcare professionals on how to manage their health condition better at home. Hospitals are not the friendliest places to visit at the moment because frontline health workers are busy fighting the pandemic. This is why it is particularly important to liaise with medical professionals and get home devices like nebulizers, peak flow meters and pulse oximeters for use,” he urged.
Omaruaye further stressed that this year’s WAD celebration is different because Nigerians, just like others across the globe, are gradually adjusting to the ‘new normal’.
While affirming that people often mistake nebulizer for a ventilator, the New Heights Pharma boss explained that the latter is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently, while nebulizers are drug delivery devices used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs.
“Such medication from doctors are best delivered to the lungs with the Omron Nebulizers, while the peak flow meters are used every day to help you or your child recognize early changes that may be signs of worsening asthma,” he said.
Meanwhile the founder of Asthma and Chest Foundation, Prof. Gregory Erhabor has disclosed that there is a tendency for the public to mistake an asthma-related cough for symptom of COVID-19.
“As doctors, we usually say that all wheezes are not asthma-related just as wheezing is not one of the symptoms in COVID-19. For asthma, diagnosis is from spirometry and demonstration of airway reversibility.
“On the other hand, the best way to diagnose COVID-19 is through testing and tracking of symptomatic and exposed individuals,” he said.
Explaining the difference between wheezing in asthmatic patients and cough in people with COVID-19, Erhabor disclosed that the latter is dry, continuous, associated with fever, sore throat, muscle aches, breathlessness and other constitutional symptoms while asthmatic cough is usually episodic, associated with wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness, and triggered by exogenous factors.
Following the speedy passage of the Control of Infectious Diseases bill to second reading on 30 April, by the House of Representatives, an action which has generated a lot of controversies, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged that “a sum of $10 million was offered by the American Computer Czar, Bill Gates to influence the speedy passage of the bill without recourse to legislative public”.
The CUPP in a statement on Monday, alleged that it got a human intelligence report that the Nigeria House of Representatives leadership was set to impose the passage of the compulsory vaccine bill without subjecting it to the traditions of legislative proceedings.
The spokesperson of the opposition political parties, Barrister Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement on Monday, said the body urged lawmakers in the lower chamber to rise against impunity.
The statement reads:
“Opposition Coalition (CUPP) has intercepted very credible intelligence and hereby alerts Nigerians of plans by the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Femi Gbajabiamila to forcefully and without adherence to the rules of lawmaking to pass the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020 otherwise known as the Compulsory Vaccination Bill which is proposing a compulsory vaccination of all Nigerians even when the vaccines have not been discovered.
“This intelligence is coupled with the information of the alleged receipt, from sources outside the country but very interested in the Bill, of the sum of $10 million by the sponsors and promoters of the Bill to distribute among lawmakers to ensure a smooth passage of the Bill.
“This will manifest in a wishy-washy public hearing which the promoters still insist on cancelling under the pretext of containment of the spread of the coronavirus. The intelligence is that the House will under whatever guise pass the Bill tomorrow 5th May, 2020 upon resumption.
“The Nigeria opposition rejects the Bill and urges opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives to confront the Speaker of the House with these facts tomorrow at plenary and resist every plan to illegally pass the Bill.
Meanwhile the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has described the bill as wrongly timed, saying the is association is still looking into it.
According to the NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, :“Although we have heard a lot of stories about this so-called bill, all I can tell you is that we are still studying it. In fact, the NMA has referred it to the Chairman of Medical Legislation and have not heard from him yet,” he said.
The Lagos Chairman, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr Tunji Akintade, in a recent report said the hasty passage of NCDC/vaccination bill through 1st & 2nd reading by Speaker Gbaja & some colleagues is suspicious.
Other concerned Nigerians have also aired their views on the development, as they took to their Twitter handles to vent their anger against situation.
Solomon Nwogu tweeted: “This is becoming to wove round the Bill Gate’s serious intention to bring his ungodly Vaccines”. @SolomonNwogu.
Grace John also said: “Bill Gates offered House of Reps $10m bribe for speedy passage of compulsory vaccine bill –CUPP alleges”. God exposed Bill gates foundation, NCDC and reps.
How can reps passed 1st & 2nd reading in ONE DAY?APC govt sold Nigerians to the devil. 76 in Lagos?” @onyiforlife
“#WeOppose I personally oppose the passage of the new NCDC bill without deliberation by the relevant house committees and most importantly it should be subjected to public hearing as enshrined in the 1999 constitution amendment.@adetonaoginni
In what has been described as a ground-breaking study by many, scientists from the University of Newcastle have achieved a feat in discovering fibre supplement that could control asthma that have hitherto resisted existing medications.
The findings, which could be of benefit to the fifteen million Nigerians suffering from Asthma, showed that good gut health could help asthma-sufferers struggling to control their condition.
According to the research published on Daily Mail Online, the researchers ran a trial using fibre supplements and found that the supplements altered the gut microbiome in asthmatics which in turn had a positive impact on asthma control.
The lead researcher, Professor Lisa Wood said, “the ground-breaking research offers hope of a viable, complementary treatment for tens of millions of asthmatics around the world struggling to control their asthma with existing medications,’.
Records has it that the results of the trial were presented for the first time on Monday at the Thoracic Society for Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting in Canberra.
“This is the first time anyone has looked at the impact of altering the gut microbiome on asthma control in humans. We’re at the tip of a new paradigm for how diet can be used to treat asthma,” Professor Peter Gibson, President of TSANZ, said at the conference.
The implication of the discovery, which monitored changes in asthma control, lung function, and gut microbiota is for asthmatics to eat more food rich in fibre and as well as seek fibre supplements specially formulated for the condition.
The study becomes very relevant as the global community marks World Asthma Day, amidst global pandemic of novel Coronavirus.
World Asthma Day is an event annually organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve Asthma awareness and care around the world. Celebrated on the first Tuesday of May, with this year World Asthma Day being 5 May 2020, due to the global pandemic, GINA has decided to postpone their promotion of World Asthma Day 2020 (until further notice).
As respiratory health advocates, they share with the people; the common goal of minimising the impact of COVID’19 as best they can, which at this time means sharing the medication use information for asthma patients through online mode.
No less than 245 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Nigeria, by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with 93 deaths and 417 recoveries.
With the 245 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 2802 cases, 417 recoveries, and 93 deaths.
Announcing the new cases through its Twitter handle, the NCDC divided them into states as follows: 76-Lagos
37-Katsina
32-Jigawa
23-Kano
19-FCT
18-Borno
10-Edo
9-Bauchi
6-Adamawa
5-Oyo
5-Ogun
1-Ekiti
1-Osun
1-Benue
1-Niger
1-Zamfara
The NCDC further explained on its collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation, WHO on samples collection at the local government level.
It stated: “In Lagos, we are working with @LSMOH, @WHO and other partners in the operationalisation of sample collection sites in Local Governments, for #COVID19 diagnosis.
“This is part of our strategy to ensure cases are detected early. #TakeResponsibility”
As the phased easing of the lockdown commences on Monday, members of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) have stressed the importance of adhering strictly to the guidelines as specified by government in order to curb the spread of the virus in the country. They have also called on government to improve supply of personal protective equipment, PPE to all categories of health workers.
Commending the federal government for incentives offered to healthcare professionals, the association has also urged government to learn from the example of the American Model where the government recently gave approval for community pharmacies to serve as testing centres for the populace to ensure more people get screened for the disease. “Nigeria boasts of community pharmacies in every state of the federation and co-opting them into COVID testing programme will serve to reach the bulk of the population within a very short time”, they quipped.
Speaking through a press statement mailed to Pharmanewsonline, signed by the National Chairman, AHAPN, Dr Kingsley Chiedu Amibor and the Secretary, Dr Hafiz Ola Akande, the hospital pharmacists expressed their absolute support for the use of face masks and hand sanitizers, saying they are “willing and ready to make hand sanitizers and hand washing soaps available at affordable costs so long as we are able to access the relevant active pharmaceutical ingredients. We call on public spirited individuals to make face masks available to the populace as part of post lockdown measures to curtail the spread. Hand sanitizers should be made available, including portable size for use by individuals”.
The association however frown at the spread of the disease among health workers which has affected 113 healthcare workers in Nigeria as at 30 April, with most of them in the private sector. They maintained that this number of infections is highly unacceptable; while calling for all hands to be desk to salvage the already slim healthcare workforce from reducing again.
They vehemently warned against allowing the experiences of countries in Europe and America to happen in Nigeria, where hundreds of healthcare workers including pharmacists, medical doctors, nurses and others were lost to COVID-19. Provision of personal protective equipment most especially face masks (not cloth masks) and hand gloves on a massive scale for healthcare workers including pharmacists in all government hospitals has become inevitable, they stated.
They continued: “Now that the government is embarking on phased easing of the lockdown, it is extremely important that the guidelines as specified by government be strictly followed by the population to curtail further spread of the virus. We hereby call on the Nigerian people to cooperate fully with the government and observe the newly released guidelines aimed at curtailing further spread of the virus”.
Parts of the release read: “There are concerns about the safety of hospital pharmacists as some of them wear the cloth masks when interfacing with patients because of inadequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs). The Association hereby makes an appeal to the government on behalf of our members for urgent action to make the appropriate facemasks available.
“We implore healthcare workers in private practice – medical doctors and pharmacists to assume a high index of suspicion in dealing with patients that patronize their services. Every patient should be handled as if he has the active disease and as such must be fully kitted with PPEs in attending to their patients. We encourage them to refer all patients with high temperatures and other symptoms of COVID-19 to the NCDC or other testing centres nearest to them.
“With the lifting of the lockdown by the federal government, use of hand sanitizers on a regular basis by the population has become inevitable. Luckily, Nigerian pharmacists including hospital based pharmacists in teaching hospitals and other places have risen to the occasion and produced large quantities of hand sanitizers but these are inadequate to serve a population of two hundred million people.
“We equally commend the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 ably led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health for measures taken so far to ensure the pandemic does not overwhelm the country. We encourage efforts at research to produce a vaccine for the virus here in Nigeria”.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 170 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 85 to 87 deaths.
With the 170 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 2558 cases, 400 recoveries, and 87 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 12:00am 4th May 2020, there are 2558 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
170 new cases of #COVID19 reported;
It also splitted the 170 new cases into states of occurrence as follows:
39-Lagos
29-Kano
24-Ogun
18-Bauchi
15-Kaduna
12-FCT
12-Sokoto
8-Katsina
7-Borno
3-Nasarawa
2-Adamawa
1-Oyo
Respoding to the NCDC update, Ikugbadi via his Twitter handle advised Nigerians as he said: ” As we go out tomorrow for our daily breads, we all should know that Coronavirus is invisible, so we should use our facemask, avoid unnecessary gathering and be sceptical about everyone around us because some people might be carrier of #COVID19 without knowing or showing any symptom” @Ikugbadi
Alhaji Mohammed Ahmad Asha, the Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State, died in isolation in the early hours of Sunday.
Information gathered by our correspondent revealed that he died of suspected coronavirus-related complications.
In a related development, a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, representing Nasarawa central, Mr Sule Adamu, has also died of COVID-19, as confirmed by the State Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Sule confirmed the death of the legislator on Sunday while briefing newsmen on the update of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Sequel to the development, he said the state’s House of Assembly would be shut down and all the state lawmakers will be quarantined to contain the spread of the virus in the state.
According to the Publicity Secretary for the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Zamfara State, Alhaji Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, the Emir had been in isolation at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau three days ago.
Kaura explained that the Emir’s blood sample had been sent to Abuja for the COVID-19 test, but however, “the result is still being awaited”.
“The remains of the late Emir is still in the hospital waiting for burial by officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control”, he stated.
The deceased was 71 years, and assumed office in 2004, when he was appointed Emir by the first civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Yariman Bakura.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 220 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in fatalities from 68 to 85 deaths
With the 220 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 2388 cases, 385 recoveries, and 85 deaths.
Making the disclosure of the new cases through its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:55pm 2 May 2020, there are 2388 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria, 385 discharged and 85 deaths”.
It also splitted the new cases into states of occurrence as follows : 62-Lagos, 52-FCT, 31-Kaduna,13-Sokoto,10-Kebbi, 9-Yobe, 6-Borno, 5-Edo, 5-Bauchi, 4-Gombe, 4-Enugu, 4-Oyo, 3-Zamfara, 2-Nasarawa, 2-Osun, 2-Ebonyi, 2-Kwara
2-Kano, and 2-Plateau.
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof. Moji Adeyeye, has denied the claims of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories on the agency’s registration and listing of its new drug for the treatment of COVID-19.
Adeyeye, in a disclaimer sent to Pharmanewsonline stated: “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) wish to inform the public that PAX CVD PLUS has not been registered nor listed for treatment of COVD-19, neither have we registered nor listed any other remedy for COVID-19”.
She explained further saying: ”The attention of the Agency has been drawn to an advertorial from Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories titled “AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY PAX HERBALS ON THE TREATMENT OF COVID-19”. The advertorial claims that Pax herbal has developed a new drug called PAX CVD PLUS for the treatment of COVID-19 and is working with NAFDAC to speed up approval for use of the drugs.
“The same advertorial claimed that the Director-General of NAFDAC has appointed experts to work with PAX HERBAL on what the company has described as a special project”, she stressed.
The NAFDAC boss maintained that at no time did she nor anyone in the Agency appoint any expert or staff to work with PAX HERBAL on any project, noting that the organisation wrote a letter to the agency to partner them on their research on a new drug, but the agency turned down the offer being a regulator.
Her words: “The company wrote a letter to NAFDAC informing the Agency about their development of an antiviral plant based drug with potential to treat COVID-19 and an invitation to join their research team. The Agency politely declined since as a regulator of clinical trials, participation would be a conflict of interest. However, we encouraged them to carry out clinical trials which should be under strict supervision of the Agency to establish efficacy of their product. However, the clinical trial has not taken place”.
Adeyeye averred that it is unfortunate that Pax Herbals has made claims that are not backed up by facts, noting the disclaimer intended to correct the erroneous impression created by the advertorial.
Earlier on in the week, the Agency had warned members of the public to desist from reports on social media claiming to have cure in form of vaccines or drugs for COVID-19.
It stated that “The Agency has not granted any approval to any products for use as a cure or vaccine against COVID 19”.
NAFDAC however urged the public
to comply with measures issued by the NCDC to prevent the spread of COVID 19, which include use of face coverings/ masks in addition to social distancing, washing of hands and use of alcohol based sanitizers.
As more and more healthcare professionals are testing positive for COVID-19, with the latest number of confirmed cases of health workers at 113, community pharmacists have proposed a withdrawal of their services if they are continuously vulnerable to the virus without the provision of personal protective equipment, PPE, from the government.
The pharmacists under the auspices of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, stated that If continued work means continuous exposure to Coronavirus, without adequate protection, they will put their services on hold.
The association through a press statement stated its condition thus “If it becomes obvious that continuing rendering our services would be detrimental to our personal health and that of our family members without adequate attention from the government,” the Association will withdraw services of its members from the communities.
National Chairman of the ACPN, Dr Samuel Adekola further explained the crucial roles community pharmacists in the communities saying: “The valuable service that community pharmacists and their teams provide to communities, and their significant contribution to alleviating the great pressure on health systems during the current coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic, is now more evident than ever.”
He said over 60,000 community pharmacists in Nigeria are exposed to COVID-19 with the current trend of community spread of the virus, it warned.
The ACPN lamented that despite its members playing important roles among the healthcare professionals, government has not thought it needful to capture the contribution of community pharmacists in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
It also decried the current situation whereby community pharmacists are exempted from among healthcare practitioners to receive protective gear in their services.
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A new study published in the journal Nature Research has found that Coronavirus appears to linger in the air in crowded spaces or rooms that lack ventilation.
The study carried out at two hospitals in Wuhan, China, found that COVID-19 can spread through tiny airborne particles known as aerosols.
The researchers explained how they found bits of the virus’ genetic material in an indoor space housing large crowds, floating in the air of hospital toilets, and rooms where medical staff take off protective gear.
The World Health Organization(WHO) has said the risk of the virus spreading through the air has been a matter of debate and is limited to specific circumstances.
WHO says an analysis of more than 75,000 cases in China showed no airborne transmission.
According to scientists humans produce two types of droplets when they breathe, cough or talk – The large droplets and the small ones.
Larger droplets drop to the ground before they evaporate, causing contamination through the objects on which they settle. Smaller ones which are the ones that make up aerosols can hang in the air for hours.
The study led by Ke Lan of Wuhan University, found few aerosols in patient wards, supermarkets and residential buildings after they set up aerosol traps in and around two hospitals in the city of Wuhan.
The researchers discovered that many more COVID-19 pathogens were detected in toilets and two areas that had large crowds passing through, including an indoor space near one of the hospitals.
“High concentrations of the virus appeared in the rooms where medical staff kept protective equipment, which may suggest that particles contaminating their gear became airborne again when masks, gloves and gowns are removed”, they stated.
According to the scientists, the study highlights the importance of ventilation, limiting crowds and careful sanitation efforts.
The takeaway from the study is that the use of face masks and gloves cannot be over emphasized as Lagos, Ogun and FCT workers are about to resume work on 4 May, 2020.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just confirmed 238 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 58 to 68 deaths.
With the 238 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 2170 cases, 351 recoveries, and 68 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:00pm 1st May 2020, there are 2170 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
They also noted that the 238 new cases are from different states in Nigeria:
92-Kano
36-FCT
30-Lagos
16-Gombe
10-Bauchi
8-Delta
6-Oyo
5-Zamfara
5-Sokoto
4-Ondo
4-Nasarawa
3-Kwara
3-Edo
3-Ekiti
3-Borno
3-Yobe
2-Adamawa
1-Niger
1-Imo
1-Ebonyi
1-Rivers
1-Enugu
Responding to the NCDC update, Ikugbadi via his Twitter handle said: “With the increase in confirm cases daily, we are already overwhelmed by the few cases recorded. The aftermath of relaxing the lockdown next week may lead to National disaster in Nigeria. Even if government release you,
pls don’t release yourself for Coronavirus.
Stay Safe!” @Ikugbadi
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has recently disclosed that 113 Nigerian health workers have tested positive for Coronavirus.
The Minister revealed this while fielding questions from journalists at the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19, Thursday 30 April 2020.
Ehanire said the infected health workers represent about 6 per cent of the total 1,728 infected persons in the country.
“Latest figures we have is that there are about 113 people in the health sector infected with COVID-19. Although they are not all public health workers, there are good numbers from private hospitals” Ehanire explained.
“If you hear us speaking here frequently against trying to treat Coronavirus in private clinics, we are actually referring to those people who do so without having necessary precautions and training because they risk infecting themselves and go home and give this infection to their family”, Ehanire warned.
The Minister of Health further cautioned that healthcare workers who have no training have no business handling coronavirus.
1. Treatment in CB should be withdrawn
2 is used for chronic constipation
3 may cause flatulence
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
Patient diagnosed with shingles about 3 months ago received famciclovir tablets 250 mg
three times daily for 7 days and is still complaining of pain in the area although
he reports that the rash has now cleared now has?
A migrainous neuralgia
B postherpetic neuralgia
C trigeminal neuralgia
D chickenpox
E generalised anxiety disorder
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 204 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in fatalities from 51 to 58 deaths.
With the 204 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 1932 cases, 319 recoveries, and 58 deaths.
Announcing the new cases through its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:50pm 30 April 2020, there are 1932 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
It also splitted the new cases into states of occurrence as follows: 80-Kano, 45-Lagos,12-Gombe, 9-Bauchi, 9-Sokoto, 7-Borno, 7-Edo, 6-Rivers, 6-Ogun, 4-FCT, 4-Akwa Ibom, 4-Bayelsa, 3-Kaduna, 2-Oyo, 2-Delta, 2-Nasarawa,1-Ondo and 1-Kebbi.
Analysing the new data, NCDC revealed that 71 per cent of all cases are from three states, which are Lagos, kano and FCT, with Kano taking the lead in the newly released report, it automatically displaced FCT, and now emerges second after Lagos, in number of confirmed cases.
The agency tweeted thus: “As at April 30 2020, 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria have recorded at least one confirmed case of #COVID19, while 71% of all cases are from three states”.
To curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus in Lagos State, City Pharmaceuticals and Allied Partners Limited, a coordinated wholesale centre pharmaceutical company has donated cartons of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizers, examination /surgical gloves and other pharmaceutical products worth over N80 million to the Lagos State Government.
Speaking during a brief presentation ceremony of the materials in Lekki, on Wednesday, Pharm. (Sir) Nnamdi Obi, chairman of the board of the company said the donation was to augment and support the excellent effort of the Lagos State Government in combating the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, adding that it is paramount to them as concerned citizens to respond to the challenge of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
He said the donation was also a means of corporate social responsibility of the company towards the efforts of the state.
Obi, however noted that the gesture should not be seen as a means of seeking praises, due to the quantum of items donated but it is to lend a hand to the state government towards the containment of the infection.
According to him, “In light of the recent outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the state, we would like to appreciate and applaud ‘Your Excellency’s effort and tenacity in the fight against the spread, effect and obliteration of this pandemic. You have led this fight in an exemplary manner and we are positive that this will forever be engraved in the hearts of many in the state,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “as a means of corporate social responsibility, our company, City Pharmaceuticals and Allied Partners Limited, is glad to donate drugs and clinical items which include: Complete set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cartons of hand sanitizers, surgical gloves, and other pharmaceutical products that are very essential in the treatment of this COVID-19 patients, to the state, and we are doing this in a bid to contribute, augment and support the excellent performance of the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu “.
Obi, on behalf of the company reiterated their support towards the measures being taken by the government to ensure that citizens are well protected and cared for as the pandemic rages, while assuring the government of further assistance in combating the disease.
During the presentation, Pharm. (Mrs) Tawa Arilesere, a director in the company called on other corporate organisations and notable individuals to extend more support to the state government, noting that the government alone cannot do it.
“The donation is a good gesture from us in our quest to cooperate with the state government to put CCOVID-19 to an end and we are hopeful that these items donated will go a long way to help the Isolation centres across the state,” she said.
Receiving the items, on behalf of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu, the Commissioner for Transport, Lagos State, Dr Fredric Oladehinde, commended City Pharma for the good gesture, adding that government would not relent in its effort to curb the spread of the virus in the state.
He also expressed the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu led administration towards constant provision of information on COVID-19 to the public.
Other executives of the company at the presentation are: Chief Felix Ugbojiaku, director; Pharm. Kenedy Izunwa, director; Chief Obafunsho Afolabi, director; Chief Emmanuel Umenwa, among others.
Towards the implementation of what he described as “Controlled Easing Phase” framework for post COVID-19 lockdown operations in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given re-opening directives to all markets and corporate organisations.
He said all open markets and stores are to be opened by 9am to 3pm on selected days, that will be announced later, with 60 per cent occupancy, while observing social distancing.
The Governor in a televised press briefing on Wednesday, with series of tweets by his Chief Press Secretary Gboyega Akosile, said “Companies that choose to operate within this Controlled Easing Phase are to operate between 9am and 3pm. They are also directed to operate at a maximum of 60 per cent of their staff capacity”.
He, however, said banking operations must fall within the stipulated hours of 9am to 3pm, adding that banks’ managements must ensure regular cleaning and decontamination of their ATM machines and devices regularly used by the public.
Sanwo-Olu has also ordered all passenger buses not to load to full capacity.“ All commercial vehicles, the Governor said, must carry maximum of 60 per cent of full capacity and their drivers must use face mask and observe other prescribed hygiene tips”.
He explained that the expiration of the lockdown was not a directive for the full reopening of the economy, saying: “It is a gradual and controlled easing of the lockdown. We will continue to monitor the public health situation”.
According to him, “All places of worship remains closed with no form of any congregational gathering until further notice. Muslims should pray at home, observe Sahur and Iftar at home in line with @NSCIAng directives. Wash hands very well before performing ablution”.
While noting that essential workers are NOT affected by these rules, he said ALL SCHOOLS (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary) are to remain physically closed, urging them to make use of various other learning alternatives (Online, Media).
Public service workers from Grade Level 1-12 have also been directed to remain at home, and work from home, while others in offices are to make use of temperature checks, hand sanitizers, hand washing equipment as provided by organisations.
To ensure strict compliance to this guidelines, the governor said the whistle-blower policy will be put in place very soon so people can report offices flouting the rules, with verifiable reports, while the identity of the whistle-blower will be kept secret.
All entertainment centres, such as “event centres, cinemas, arcade, bars, casinos, day clubs, night clubs, beaches, salons, parks, pool, gym to remain closed for 2 weeks, (from May 4) after which, it will be reviewed”, he stated.
As serious preparations towards easing the lockdown gets closer, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 196 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 44 to 51 deaths.
With the 196 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 1728 cases, 307 recoveries, and 51 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:50pm 29th April 2020, there are 1728 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
196 new cases of #COVID19 reported;
They also noted that the 196 new cases are from different states in Nigeria
87-Lagos
24-Kano
18-Gombe
17-Kaduna
16-FCT
10-Katsina
8-Sokoto
7-Edo
6-Borno
1-Yobe
1-Ebonyi
1-Adamawa
Respoding to the NCDC update, Adekunle via his Twitter handle said: “now that there are 87 new cases in Lagos ,what are lagosians supposed to do with their lives after the 4th of May?” @DehkunleofAfrica
Select the best answer for the statement below
Legionnaires’ disease:
A ❏ is caused by a Gram-positive coccus
B ❏ is a chronic infectious disease
C ❏ has an incubation period of 2 days to 3 years
D ❏ is characterised by the development of pneumonia
E ❏ may be prevented by vaccination
The race for another PANSite of the Year Award has begun with the nomination exercise of your favourite Pharmacy students, who have been impactful in public health advocacy and social development.
It would be recalled that Pharmanews Ltd, introduced the Online Competition in 2019 to recognise and celebrate PANSites, who have distinguished themselves in active participation in community services through public health enlightenment programmes, healthcare innovation and social development.
Yusuf Hassan Wada, a 21-year- old pharmacy student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, emerged the winner of the first edition of the keen contest, and was presented with a cheque and a plaque.
To select candidates for the second edition of the Online Competition, we hereby call for nomination of PANSites, who have invented fantastic innovations, and those who have impacted their communities significantly, based on public healthcare and community development activities. Your nomination should be attached as a comment to the post.
Following the nomination exercise, the panel in charge of the exercise will select five nominees with highest nominations for an Online Poll, and the candidate with the highest votes becomes the winner.
Please note that nomination closes on Thursday 7 May 2020, at noon.
As Nigeria plans towards easing the lockdown come 4 May, 195 new cases of the novel Coronavirus have been recorded on Tuesday by 11: 50pm, with death toll rising from 40 to 44, making a total of 1532 confirmed cases, as revealed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
The breakdown of the new cases is shown as follows:
80-Lagos
38-Kano
15-Ogun
15-Bauchi
11-Borno
10-Gombe
9-Sokoto
5-Edo
5-Jigawa
2-Zamfara
1-Rivers
1-Enugu
1-Delta
1-FCT
1-Nasarawa
The NCDC via its Twitter handle said there were four fatalities on Tuesday, making a total of 44 deaths, with 255 recoveries.
It said: “As at 11:50pm 28th April- 1532 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria, 255 discharged and 44 deaths”
The NCDC further explained that one case was previously reported in Gombe State, but now recorded as a Borno State case, thus making the total number of Borno to be 53, while Gombe is 46.
With the 195 new cases being the highest so far recorded in a day, and 34 states affected out of 36 states of the federation, a lot of Nigerians have began to query the announced gradual ease of lockdown by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the new figures are scary.
Respoding to the NCDC update, Osmund CJ via his Twitter handle said: “Thinking of relaxing this lockdown now is a mistake by this Govt.I pray we don’t regret relaxation of this lockdown from next week” @osmund123
Another concerned citizen, Evehola also reacted :”They’re definitely going to regret it… does the virus reach an agreement on time of operation with them”.@OluwaleimuO
Meanwhile, prior to the announcement of relaxing the lockdown, Pharmanewsonline gathered that there have been agitation from different quarters to call it off, due to untold suffering and hunger inflicted on the masses, especially those who feed on daily income.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned healthcare professionals and other members of the public on the use of face masks and other personal protective equipment, PPE, saying simply wearing protective clothing without adhering to usage guidelines wont guarantee protection.
It emphasized that the protective effect of face masks and the suits can only be ensured if the clothing is put on and taken off in the correct way and if correct working procedures are followed.
The agency recently disclosed usage guidelines for non-medical, medical masks and respirators, noting that protective clothing should be checked before use, to ensure they are intact and replaced if damaged.
It further revealed that protective clothing should fit the wearer and should not hamper movement, while contaminated protective clothing should be disposed of in specially designed rubbish bag, to prevent the spread of the virus.
The NAFDAC DG, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, speaking through a press release, explained the uses of the different masks, stating that the non-medical masks, such as are the self-made, commercial masks or face covers made of cloth, and other textiles or paper, are not recommended for medical workers because they are substandard.
“They are not standardized and are not intended for use in healthcare settings or by healthcare professionals.They serve to limit spread of droplets and offer some measure of protection to those around you.
“These face masks are recommended to be washed daily and preferably should be a double layer of fabric to increase the absorbency and effectiveness. It must be noted that several washes, drying and stretching of the mask over time reduce the effectiveness of the mask”.
She described surgical or medical masks as those fit for health workers as they are fairly loose-fitting disposable masks. They made from non-woven polypropylene fabric consisting of multiple layers. They are for use by healthcare professionals and offer different levels of protection.
“These masks help prevent large droplets of bodily fluids that may contain germs, including viruses, from coming in direct contact with the patient or the healthcare personnel. They also help to prevent hand-to-face contact.
The NAFDAC boss also mentioned respirators, such as the N95, N98, KN95 respirator masks, saying they are designed to protect the wearer from small (0.3 micron) particles in the air, like viruses, which the regular surgical masks cannot do.
“These respirators provide an air tight seal when fitted correctly and filter out very small particles including viruses such as the COVID 19. The respirators are made of fine mesh synthetic polymer fiber” she stated.
Adeyeye further hinted on the efforts of the agency in expediting the registration pathway to enhance the granting of Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for face masks and other PPE.
All the following products contain a local anaesthetic EXCEPT:
A ❏ Dequacaine
B ❏ Merocaine
C ❏ BurnEze
D ❏ Anthisan
E ❏ Proctosedyl
The World’s leading health body, the World Health Organization, has recently stated that the Coronavirus pandemic is far from being over at a news conference, even as some countries of the world including Nigeria relax lockdown orders so as to restart the economic and business life of their nations.
Since the outbreak of the viral infection, Pharmanewsonline gathered that four million jobs have been furloughed in the UK alone, while over 3 million people in the US have become unemployed, and countries in Africa have been plunged into more economic misery as the Coronavirus pandemic has affected small and large scale enterprises.
Coronavirus has infected more than 3 million people and killed at least 210,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Reports have also shown that more than 56,000 people have died in the United States, representing more than a quarter of all deaths worldwide.
Switzerland will allow some businesses to reopen today, while Italy plans to loosen some measures on 4 May, but the WHO has warned such countries that the pandemic isn’t over. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“We continue to be concerned about the increasing trends in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and some Asian countries”.
“As in all regions, cases and deaths are underreported in many countries in these regions, because of low testing capacity,” Tedros said.
“This virus will not be defeated if we are not united, the virus will exploit the cracks between us and continue to create havoc. Lives will be lost,” Tedros warned.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 64 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 35 to 40 deaths.
With the 64 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 1337 cases, 255 recoveries, and 40 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:25 pm 27th April 2020, there are 1337 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
64 new cases of #COVID19 reported;
They also noted that the 64 new cases are from different states in Nigeria, 34 in Lagos, 15 in FCT, 11 in Borno, 2 in Taraba and 2 in Gombe.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) has announced the ease of lockdown in Lagos, FCT, and Ogun effective from 4 May, 2020.
He made the statement during the nationwide broadcast on Monday.
Buhari, also announced an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am nationwide as part of efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19, while he described the new order as a “phased and gradual easing” of lockdown measures in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday.
He explained further: “In line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown.
“However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.
“Furthermore, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows;
“There will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services;
“There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice.
“Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers; and
“We will strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene.
“Furthermore, the restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place. State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.
For the avoidance of doubt, the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States shall remain in place until these new ones come into effect on Monday, 4th May 2020.
“The Presidential Task Force shall provide sector specific details to allow for preparations by governments, businesses and institutions”.
The president continued: “In respect to the above guidelines, State Governors may choose to adapt and expand based on their unique circumstances, provided they maintain alignment with the guidelines issued above.
“To support our businesses and traders, the monetary and fiscal authorities shall deploy all the necessary provisions needed for production to continue and thus, jobs restored”,
Buhari who condoled with citizens who have lost their loved ones due to the pandemic, urged everyone to comply with the NCDC guidelines, of social distancing, avoiding of large crowd, and use of face masks to curb the spread of the disease.
The president who described as unfortunate the situation in Kano State, where scores of citizens have died, according to reports due to an unknown cause, ordered a- two-week total lockdown in the state.
He said : “These revised guidelines will not apply to Kano State. The total lockdown recently announced by the State Government shall remain enforced for the full duration. The Federal Government shall deploy all the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the State in controlling and containing the pandemic.
He did not fail to commend the healthcare practitioners, who have been on the frontline of the battle.
“I wish to once again commend the frontline workers across the country who, on a daily basis, risk everything to ensure we win this fight. For those who got infected in the line of duty, be rest assured that government will do all it takes to support you and your families during this exceedingly difficult period. I will also take this opportunity to assure you all that your safety, wellbeing and welfare remains paramount to our Government.
“I will also recognise the support we have received from our traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and other prominent religious and community leaders. Your cooperation and support has significantly contributed to the successes we have recorded to date. I will urge you all to please continue to create awareness on the seriousness of coronavirus among your worshippers and communities while appealing that they strictly comply with public health advisories”, he urged.
(Contd from last edition)
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nurses are capable of providing the majority of the care included in the basic package of clinical and public health services with a broad and fundamental role to play, given the knowledge, skills and impact of nursing and midwifery work on the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of universal healthcare, through the provision of 24 hours service a day and 365 days a year.
Nurses and midwives account for nearly 60 per cent of the global highly-skilled health workforce. Hence, for all countries to achieve SDG number 3 on health and well-being (ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages) nurses and midwives are the single reliable forces to attain this.
The triple impact of nursing report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health (APPG), emphasised that successfully providing universal health coverage requires a strong global nursing presence. A viable nursing profession will yield a “triple impact of improving health, promoting gender equality and supporting economic growth.”
The WHO estimates that the world needs an additional nine million (9,000,000) nurses and midwives by the year 2030. In Nigeria, there is a shortage in supply of nurses and midwives while the ones that are available are either not motivated, or not distributed equitably to enhance proper service delivery.
The shortage in the number of nurses and midwives is largely responsible for the economic and nationwide development challenges. With adequate support, motivation, empowerment and repositioning of Nigerian nurses and midwives, they are prepared to contribute to efficient delivery of UHC and work relentlessly towards attainment of qualitative, safe, accessible, and affordable healthcare services.
It is therefore our resolution that following the global trend, there is the need for collaboration and cooperation within all the arms of government, the worthy professional association, regulatory agencies, and the various MDAs involved in the healthcare delivery system.
Reasons to reposition nursing and midwifery in Nigeria
Globally, repositioning nursing and midwifery has led to improved health care status, where there is freedom of practice at complementing and contributing to healthcare efficiencies. This is achieved through extended roles of nurses and midwives as is the case globally, but being neglected in Nigeria, while our products are performing wonders all over the globe.
However, the government and key stakeholders are invited to note that some challenges need to be given priority attention towards repositioning nursing and midwifery services and personnel to enhance the attainment of UHC goals as a member of the global community.
The Nigerian health profile is a reference point that deserves attention. The Nigerian population is largely disproportionate to the number of nurses and midwives in the country. Primary healthcare services are particularly suffering because of the grossly inadequate number of the professionals.
Nigerians are deprived of the vital services of nurses and midwives in our rural areas and instead of repositioning nursing and midwifery services, less qualified professionals who were only trained to assist nurses and midwives are now being substituted to work in positions of nurses and midwives.
As a group of professionals, we are fully prepared to scale up and review the skill mix of our members to include first-level care providers as being proposed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to ensure adequate presence of nurses and midwives in all the required underserved areas in Nigeria.
Towards achieving this feat, government policies, collaboration, recognition, basic infrastructures and equipment are required to make this a reality. Nurses and midwives are prepared to mobilise available resources to deliver the best for the Nigerian populace. For about 200 million Nigerians, Nigeria has trained and registered above 300,000 nurses and brain drain is vastly diminishing our nursing and midwifery workforce. Only about one-third of nurses registered by NMCN stay within the country and even these are not totally absorbed in, therefore remaining under-employed and thereby contributing abysmally low input to the Nigeria health services.
The remaining two thirds of nurses trained in Nigeria leave the country for greener pastures after training. For instance, out of 10,000 personnel registered by NMCN, 2,005, 2,536, 3,561 left in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively. If the Nigerian environment is conducive, especially with adequate infrastructure, equipment and remuneration, these well-trained nurses would have fewer reasons to exit their fatherland. This development is more disheartening, considering the fact that Nigeria expends huge scarce resources in training nurses for the consumption of the western world who are more economically buoyant.
Recommendations for investment in nursing and midwifery
To address the above challenges, we recommend the following:
● An urgent review of the laws and regulations of nursing and midwifery education and practice in Nigeria.
●Empowerment of the West African College of Nursing, as well as establishment of a National Postgraduate Nursing College.
● An improved commitment to research into nursing, as well as increased role of nurses and midwives in primary level of healthcare delivery.
● Complete absorption of all nurses and midwives trained into employment at all levels of healthcare system in the country.
● Proper placement of nurse interns and graduate nurses to make them to be at par with their contemporaries in the health sector.
● Formulation of policies to increase the roles of nurses and midwives in primary healthcare and abolition of polices that prevent midwives from doing the work they are trained and licensed to do in most of our secondary and tertiary health institutions.
● Provision of modern facilities/equipment and continuous training/capacity-building of staff on new innovations.
● Increased and improved dissemination of effective and innovative practice in nursing with ICT driving the process.
● Involvement of nurses and midwives in policy-formulation and decision-making in the health sector. This will ensure that the impacts of nurses and midwives are felt, and this will help to eradicate certain lapses in the health sector. It is worthy of mention that, at the Federal Ministry of Health, despite having the highest number of skilled manpower in the sector, there is no separate department for nursing services. This lapse creates a healthcare system obstacle.
● Proper reintegration of nurses and midwives in the primary health care programme, with public health nurses being empowered to lead as managers of PHC in Nigeria.
Expected actions from state and federal governments
We particularly request that federal and state authorities consider and graciously grant the full implementation of the Orasanye and Yayale Ahmed committees’ reports on harmony in health sector that recommended the following solutions and implementation strategies:
a. A full-fledged department of nursing at the Federal Ministry of Health.
b. More nurses in position of political appointment.
c. Representation of nurses at top management levels in the health sector.
It is therefore time for the Nigerian government to step up and take decisive actions to invest in their nursing and midwifery workforce. This requires increase in allocation to health budgets, not only increasing numbers but ensuring that nurses and midwives are resourced and supported to meet the world’s healthcare needs.
The WHO has provided a unique opportunity for countries to both demonstrate how much they appreciate their nurses and midwives and to showcase what more nurses and midwives can achieve if given the support to do so.
Florence Nightingale, in the 1870s, wrote that “it would take 100 to 150 years for the world to see the kind of nursing I envision…” It is therefore not a coincidence that 150 years later, the world has declared 2020 the international year of the nurse and midwife and has shifted attention to these profession.
As the NANNM President, our appeal is that now that the entire world is focusing on nursing and midwifery, we should not allow the world to leave us behind, so that our healthcare system can tap from the benefits inherent in investing in nurses and midwives.
Regarded as one of the most successful doctors from Nigeria, Godwin Maduka a pharmacist cum physician has had a notable career and indeed an inspiring one.
About 38 years ago, he was just a schoolboy from a humble background in the remote and impoverished community of Nkerehi (now Umuchukwu), in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, with no means of paying his school fees to attend medical school in the University of Port Harcourt.
Today, Maduka has risen to become the MD and CEO of one of the biggest pain and medical institutes in America, the Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Centre, in Nevada.
He is indeed acclaimed as a renowned expert in pain management, critical care and anaesthesiology. He is a clinical faculty supervisor and adjunct professor of pain management and anaesthesiology at Touro University, Nevada. He is also a clinical assistant professor of surgery at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Medicine.
Quite interestingly, Maduka is also a very successful businessman, who is well known for his philanthropism, as he has uplifted thousands of lives in Nigerian communities. His success has also changed the fortunes of Umuchukwu, his native community, which has been predominantly transformed by his initiatives into a very popular community in Anambra State.
Maduka has invested over $20 million in various community development projects in Umuchukwu. Through his foundation, which he established over 17 years ago, he built houses for the poor, churches, a modern market, schools, a community town hall centre, a police station, a police academy and college, a post office, barracks for civil defence staff, a magistrate court and a high court for the Anambra State government.
He also built a 17-floor multiplex medical research centre in Umuchukwu. It was due to his transformative efforts that the Nkerehi Community was renamed Umuchukwu by the state government.
Background and Education
Godwin Maduka was born in 1959, in Nkerehi (now Umuchukwu) community of Anambra state. His mother was a petty trader and farmer, while his father was a traditional herbalist. As a child living in a community that thrives on agriculture, his parents had to struggle to cater for him and his siblings. At some point he had to engage in some agricultural activities to assist his parents in paying his school fees and that of his siblings. He had his secondary education at Nawfia Comprehensive Secondary School and All Saints Grammar school, Umunze, before getting admission to study Medicine at the University of Port Harcourt. He however couldn’t join his peers due to lack of funds.
Maduka, against all odds, overcame all the challenges on his journey to success. He got an opportunity through a friend to study at Rust College, Mississippi, on a scholarship that covered half of his tuition. He also got some monetary support from his younger brother and uncle and moved to the United States in 1982.
In 1984, Maduka graduated summa cum laude in Chemistry from Rust College and later got another scholarship to study Pharmacy at Mercer University, Georgia, where he graduated in 1988 as a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD). After graduation, he worked as a pharmacy technician, before getting a full scholarship to study Medicine at University of Tennessee, where he completed an internship and graduated in 1993.
Having fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor, Maduka opted to specialise in anaesthesiology and pain management as he has exceptional knowledge in Chemistry, Pharmacy and Medicine. He gained admission for his postgraduate medical training in Harvard University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where he graduated in 1997 as an anaesthesiologist. He also completed his residency in anaesthesiology, critical care and pain management at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in 1997.
In 1997, after his education, Maduka moved to Las Vegas and got a job, in which he was paid $8,000 as advance payment. This windfall marked the turning point for his career which enabled him to save and prepare as an entrepreneur. Maduka worked as an anaesthesiologist at Desert Spring United Methodist Church, Nevada and other hospitals, before starting his own practice at Red Rock Medical Group, Nevada.
In 1999, he founded Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Centre, before expanding it to other six locations in Southern Nevada. Today, Las Vegas Pain Institute has one of the biggest medical facilities in USA. He has invested over $4 million on building expansion of the institute, which has over 80 employees.
Awards and recognitions
In 2015, Life and Times magazine featured Maduka on the cover of its Winter 2015 Edition. In 2017, he received Africa’s Most Inspirational Developmental Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Award at the 2017 Pan Africa Business Leadership Summit & Merit Awards.
In 2019, he was honoured with a chieftaincy title as Okeosisi Orumba by Orumba South in Umunze, alongside his wife, Stella, who was honoured as Ugo ka ibe ya mma. He also received the Man of the Year award at the 2019 Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Award. In December 2019, he was honoured at the 2019 Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award. In January 2020, Attention magazine placed him on its cover, featuring him atop its “2020 Impression” edition.
Maduka is happily married to Stella Maduka and they are blessed with five children.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 91 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 35 to 40 deaths.
With the 91 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 1273 cases, 239 recoveries, and 40 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:55 pm 25th April 2020, there are 1182 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
91 new cases of #COVID19 reported;
They also noted that the 91 new cases are from different states in Nigeria, 43 in Lagos, 8 in Sokoto, 6 in Taraba, 5 in Kaduna, 5 in Gombe, 3 in Ondo, 3 in FCT, 3 in Edo, 3 in Oyo, 3 in Rivers, 3 in Bauchi, 2 in Osun, 1 in Akwa Ibom, 1 in Bayelsa, 1 in Ebonyi, and 1 in Kebbi.
Dr Leo Egbujiobi is the immediate past president of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA). In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, he highlights the notable achievements, legacies and challenges of his tenure. Excerpts:
Congratulations on your successful tenure as president of NAPPSA. You previously listed some objectives you intended to focus on during your administration. What would you consider as your major achievements?
First, let me congratulate Pharmanews – the publisher and the staff – for the excellent service you have rendered to pharmaceutical science and the pharmaceutical industry in the past 41 years. It is overwhelming and humbling to see the significant number of awards that the organisation has garnered.
I am very proud that Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi and his staff members have done a great job. It is indeed a remarkable achievement for the management of Pharmanews to have attained this height. Thank you for the excellent job that you have done and continue to do.
Coming to NAPPSA, I don’t want to see what was done while I was president as my achievements. As the president of NAPPSA, I only helped to build the second layer of the foundation. My executives and I charted a course to fortify the foundation in the area of communication, pharmacy education and alliances. Our discussions also covered making Pharmacy in Nigeria a respected profession. What we have done was to usher NAPPSA to the third layer of its existence.
It was really interesting that the NAPPSA forum, which is now a widely used platform of communication, came out of frustration when our last convention was frustrated by cancellations due to crisis in the hotel where we were supposed to hold the conference in Atlanta. Several phone calls were made but we had difficulties communicating about the event. Then, Mrs Emelia Orubele, who was my chief coordinator for the Atlanta convention, advised that we open an online platform. That was how people came across the NAPSSA forum, which is now a big WhatsApp group.
I really had problems communicating with the members, because a lot of people don’t read their emails or even visit the NAPPSA website; but they go to the NAPPSA forum to join conversations. The forum has really bridged the communication gap among members. It is a good network opportunity for members to know what is going on and to discuss issues.
Prior to the creation of that platform, communication was not easy among NAPPSA members. You could write letters to 200 persons but only 10 would respond. It is different now with the forum. And, obviously, the current leadership of Dr Tony Ikeme is taking it to a higher level.
Looking at our achievements in terms of the groups and organisations we were affiliated with, I think our greatest impact was in communicating with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and jointly with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), along with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). All these organisations have a similar goal, which is patient-centered approach and they also have a lot of joint conferences. Right now, I know that the PSN, PCN, and NMA are in constant communication to define the role of a pharmacist, a medical doctor, and a nurse, while the NMCN gets involved in taking care of the patient.
We all know that when these three entities work together, the patient outcome is improved. So I would like to say that this is a significant measure that will yield fruit down the road. It is not about what we have done today. It is about what we have left behind that will continue to grow, because a society does better when their old folks plant trees, which they themselves may not benefit from. It is not what I benefit from; it is what will benefit the organisation in the future.
You also mentioned in a previous interview that you were going to find a way of making it easier for Nigerian pharmacists in diaspora that were interested in coming home to practise to do the necessary qualifying examinations and get the certification they needed with the PCN. How much of this was achieved?
It was huge, and it came to fruition. My biggest thanks to the PCN registrar, Pharmacist Elijah Mohammed; and his assistant, Dr Anthony Idoko. We actually had the first group of NAPPSA members in Nigeria for three weeks for certification. They did three weeks online and in Lagos they had their first inaugural training. I came in for one day for the opening ceremony.
From what you’ve observed about the batch of pharmacists that came for the PCN certification last year, how impactful would you say the certification has been on their practice?
The certification serves two purposes. One, they can go home and practise. And two, it allows them to have dual practice; they can practise in Nigeria and also in America. The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) which is the section for retail pharmacists now relate with the counterparts of NAPPSA, and we believe that, with that synergy, there will be exchange of skills and transfer of technology.
Definitely, leading an association like NAPPSA comes with some challenges. Looking back at your tenure, what could you identify as your toughest challenge?
The main challenge was communication, because you can have big dreams, but without communication, you can’t get anywhere. Also, the rapidity with which we wanted to change things was there, but people were slow at adapting to changes; so, the intersection of rapid change and time caused a lot of difficulties.
As a physician, my job is almost 24/7. I wake at six in the morning and I go to bed at 2.00am; so every hour is accounted for. But that is not how everybody else works. So, whenever I was ready to talk to NAPPSA members then, they would have already gone to sleep. That break in the communication channel led to a lot of challenges.
Again, the formation of an NGO in Nigeria to help NAPPSA was a great idea. It went fast but we were held back by the “Nigerian factor”. The joint exercise of Association of Nigerian Physicians in Americas (ANPA) was another thing that moved very fast, but the major challenge was communication.
Having joined the respectable league of past NAPPSA presidents, what is your advice to the new NAPPSA leadership?
It is actually simple because I am the immediate past president; so I am still part of the leadership. The greatest way to advise is to work with and behind the president. Advice made in the open can be seen to be selfish. The current president of NAPPSA is a very meticulous person, with excellent communication skills.
As a pharmacist and cardiologist, would you say your knowledge of Pharmacy has improved or impacted your practice as a cardiologist?
The wonderful thing about being trained as a medical doctor, especially in the US, is the ability to be allowed to have diverse training and experience. For instance, only about 30 per cent of patients I see need drugs, and I see about 3000 patients a year. I spend hours going through psychological and psychosocial counselling with about 10 per cent.
Now, the pharmaceutical knowledge makes me more effective and appreciative. It makes me appreciate the role of pharmacists in the care of my patients. I have a better understanding than an average physician. I see my two years as the president of NAPPSA as very helpful because when I discuss with doctors about Pharmacy, they wonder where I got the knowledge.
You are a cardiologist, and I know you are aware of this wave of heart-related issues in Nigeria. What should we be doing as a nation to help improve heart health?
The whole thing starts from parents. You see, if your parents had heart problem or high blood pressure, you are going to have it, unless you make some lifestyle changes. The truth is that heart disease is a combination of slowly and accumulating factors that could have been interrupted if primary care and attention were given.
The nurse, pharmacist, and the doctor are obligated to discuss the role of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, excess cholesterol, obesity and lack of exercise in sudden death, stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.
There are four major causes of sudden death – though 60 per cent of it is due to immediate blockage of the artery in the heart. The four of them are stroke, blockage of the lungs, irregular heart structure due to child birth deformity, and disease in the muscle of the heart due to cancer. It still goes back to identifying these factors and dealing with them.
In spite of that, people still die suddenly, even in the United States. But from the time I qualified as a cardiologist till now, the number of people dying suddenly has gone down by 60 per cent, because we are now able to identify them; and even though we know they may die suddenly, we put a device in them and monitor their lives.
For those whose cases we cannot predict, we create an environment where there is increased chance of resuscitation. It goes back to constant power and management of high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and cholesterol.
If we are able to provide clean water and 80 per cent of electricity to the average Nigerian, disease process and death will go down by 30 per cent; people will live longer by five years. Clean water and constant power are major challenges in Nigeria, because we have not given appropriate attention that they deserve. It is because we, as a nation, have not realised the importance. We still see them as a luxury.
…Donate Hand Sanitizers, Drugs, Hands Gloves to 57 LGAs, LCDAs in Lagos
Owing to the global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the state, especially the dearth in the availability of face masks, and other PPE, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has urged the Lagos State Government, to encourage mass production of face masks to further protect the citizens from contracting the COVID-19 infection.
The chairman of the association, Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi made the call, at the Public Presentation of Medical items, including packs of alcohol based hand sanitizers, packs of vitamin c drug, and packs of hands gloves to all the 57 local council development areas in Lagos State.
According to him, all states of the federation, including Lagos state should emulate what the Cross River State is doing in the aspect of massive production of local face masks and ensuring that all residents of the state get the mask free of charge, although Lagos state is commencing the enforcement of its use, but the challenge is its affordability.
“I understand that Lagos state is also making some moves to ensure the same is enforced here, but how does the government expect those who have been locked inside their houses for over thirty days to afford to buy face masks which is getting expensive on daily basis? So, it would be good if the government can encourage more people to go into mass production of face masks in the state,” he advised.
Obideyi also noted that inadequate supply of PPE to pharmacists who are now receiving more patients due to shutting down of so many hospitals in the state is putting their lives at risk of infectious COVID-19, adding that health workers rely on PPE to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others, saying its shortage is leaving the community pharmacists dangerously ill-equipped to care for patients.
Presenting the items, the ACPN boss, noted that the association took the decision to donate the items to all the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state as part of its corporate social responsibility to the state, and also to contribute its quota to the containment of COVID-19, which is ravaging the whole world, saying the issue of Coronavirus should not be left for government alone to handle.
“Government cannot do it alone without the support of an association like ours, so we have mandated all our zones across the state to do the same, but we have only picked Apapa LGA and Ifako/Ijaiye LGA to flag off the donation, while we leave other local governments across the state to be handled by our zones in the state.
Speaking in the same vein, the Coordinator, ACPN, Apapa zone, Pharm. (Mrs) Onyinye Okafor, and the Secretary, Lagos ACPN, Pharm. Jonah Okotie stated that the step taken by the association became necessary in view of the high rate of the spread of the disease in the country, adding that the gesture was part of the Association’s commitment to support the state government with its little contribution.
The Chairman, Apapa Local Government, Hon. Elijah Owolabi Adele who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Hon. Olalekan Bakare, attributed the success recorded so far in the management of COVID-19 in Lagos State to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s proactiveness, towards the health challenge, saying the outbreak would have posed grievous danger to the state if not for the priority given to the health sector.
He emphasised that even although there has not been serious challenge of the outbreak in Apapa LGA, as it only recorded 2 cases so far, it was necessary to prepare for any eventuality, adding that the local government is being proactive towards the fight against the pandemic to ensure that the community is protected from COVID-19.
While commending the gesture of the ACPN, the LGA boss said that the donated products would be used for the purpose they are meant for, adding the council is going to give priority to the usage of the materials to prevent the spread of the virus in the area,noting that the vitamin C will help boost their immune system, while the hand sanitizers and gloves will help prevent the spread of the virus.
In his own contribution, the Chairman, Ifako/Ijaiye Local Government Area, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, said the council will continue to spread the advocacy, educating her people so they would know what to do to avoid the virus, stressing that the council was determined to eliminate the disease in the community.
While lauding the ACPN for the donation, the council boss said there is need for more partnership with the view to ensuring that everything works to the expectation of the people, such that the war been waged over this ravaging pandemic will be won at the end of the day.
Speaking further, Oke urged residents of the area to report any COVID-19 symptom to the concerned authorities, stressing that the local government authorities was determined to eliminate the disease in the community.
“So, I want to appeal to our people to continue to cooperate with us in this fight against Coronavirus. They should continue to stay at home. We don’t want anyone to die and the best thing to contain this virus is for us to stay at home and take every necessary precaution as stated by the experts”, the LGA boss said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has just announced 87 new cases of COVID-19 and increase in deaths from 32 to 35 deaths.
With the 87 new cases, Nigeria now has a total of 1182 cases, 222 recoveries, and 35 deaths.
Making the disclosure via its Twitter handle, the NCDC said: “As at 11:55 pm 25th April 2020, there are 1182 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria”.
They also noted that the 87 new cases are from different states in Nigeria, 33 in Lagos, 18 in Borno, 12 in Osun, 9 in Katsina, 4 in Kano, 4 in Ekiti, 3 in Edo, 3 in Bauchi and 1 in Imo.
The breakdown cases by states currently are as follows:
Lagos-689
FCT-138
Kano-77
Ogun-35
Osun-32
Gombe-30
Katsina-30
Borno-30
Edo-22
Oyo-18
Kwara-11
Akwa Ibom-11
Bauchi-11
Kaduna-10
Ekiti-8
Ondo-4
Delta-6
Rivers-3
Jigawa-2
Enugu-2
Niger-2
Abia-2
Zamfara-2
Sokoto-2
Benue-1
Anambra-1
Adamawa-1
Plateau-1
Imo-1
-Violators to spend 14 days in Isolation Centres
As Nigeria continues to battle the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ogun State Government says it will begin enforcing the wearing of face masks in the state, as from May 1, 2020.
The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun disclosed this during a press conference in the state on Friday April 24. He said offenders of the compulsory face masks order will be arrested and made to spend 14 days in an Isolation centres.
“We are working against the spread of this COVID-19. As from May 1, it will be compulsory for everybody in the state to wear face masks. We deliberately delayed enforcing it so that our people can have enough time to get their own. After May 1, anyone who fails to wear a face mask will be viewed as deliberately planning to infect others and will be arrested and put in our isolation centres.
“Some of our confirmed cases are immigrants coming to our state through the land borders. The peculiarity of Ogun State put us at a vulnerable position. That means that just as we have advantages, we also have some disadvantages.” he said.
He added that the state has made testing booths available in border towns and highly populated areas for people, stating that the Intensive Care Unit, ICU at the 250-bed hospital at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was ready for use, while the Molecular Laboratory for testing COVID-19 patients has been inspected by officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and the World Health Organisation, WHO.
Ogun state currently has 35 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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