Connect with us

Health

Five Million Lives Lost to COVID-19 is Global Shame, Says UN Chief  

Published

on

 

 

As the world on Monday passed yet another sombre pandemic milestone – five million lives lost to COVID-19 – Secretary-General António Guterres called on global leaders to back the UN strategy to make vaccine equity a reality by accelerating efforts and ensuring maximum vigilance to defeat the virus.

 

In a statement issued to mark the crossing of this “painful threshold”, the UN chief said the “devastating milestone reminds us that we are failing much of the world. While wealthy countries are rolling out third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, only about five per cent of the people in Africa are fully vaccinated.”

 

“This is a global shame. Five million deaths should also stand as a clear warning: we cannot let our guard down,” Mr. Guterres said, explaining that the world was still seeing more deaths, overcrowded hospitals and exhausted health workers, as well as the risk of new variants spreading and claiming more lives.

 

At the same time, he noted that other dangerous threats continue to allow COVID-19 to thrive: misinformation, vaccine hoarding and vaccine nationalism, and lack of global solidarity.

 

Vaccine equity can tame the virus

#

 

“I urge world leaders to fully support the Global Vaccine Strategy I launched with the World Health Organization (WHO) last month,” the Secretary-General said, adding: “We need to get vaccines into the arms of 40 per cent of people in all countries by the end of this year, and 70 per cent by mid 2022.”

Breaking:Gunmen Abduct Former GM Nigeria Ports Authority

He also called on world leaders to deliver with urgency and scale, address funding gaps and coordinate their actions for success.

 

‘Match vaccines with vigilance’

 

Mr. Guterres said it would be a mistake to think that the pandemic is over. As restrictions ease in many places, “we must also match vaccines with vigilance – including through smart and proven public health measures like masking and social distancing.”

 

“The best way to honor those five million people lost – and support health workers fighting this virus every day – is to make vaccine equity a reality by accelerating our efforts and ensuring maximum vigilance to defeat this virus,” he concluded.

 

Health

Crackdown on Hospital Theft: Kano State’s New Measures to Curb Facility Mismanagement

Published

on

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

The Executive Secretary Kano State Hospitals Management Board Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda have reiterated the board’s effort in bringing lasting solution to the theft been carried out in facilities.

This followed the recent happening regarding the theft of scrap items from Minjibir General Hospital involving staff of the facility. A tip was made by an anonymous person who alerted the authorities and where apprehended while leaving the premises.

“We have caught the culprits, a DAC have been carried out on them according to civil service rules followed by appropriate sanctions. We will not fold our arms and watch things go wrong. Any person in need of scrap items should follow the due process. On no account should any facility management or staff hand over any scrap items to anyone unless they have gotten full clearance from the Bureau of procurement and ministry of finance with further clearance from the State Ministry of Health and Kano State Hospitals Management Board.

Dr Nagoda called on all Zonal/chief medical directors of all the 16 zones heading the 44 facilities to as a matter of urgency do a background check in all their facilities in other to avert reoccurrence of such incidence.

Samira Suleiman
Public Relations Officer
Kano State Hospitals Management Board
19/02/2025

#

Continue Reading

Health

Kano Nurses Consider Separation from National Body Over Leadership Concerns

Published

on

 

A significant number of nurses, particularly younger professionals, are expressing their intention to withdraw from the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) due to perceived failures in leadership at the state level. Many nurses and midwives have voiced their frustrations regarding the union’s inability to advocate effectively for their welfare, leading to widespread discontent within the healthcare community.

The primary concerns driving this potential breakaway include:

1. Ineffective Representation: Nurses are increasingly worried about the union’s failure to address critical issues such as the implementation of hazard allowances, upgrading CONHESS to 100%, timely promotions, inadequate salaries, poor working conditions, and improper placement of graduate nurses upon employment. Additionally, there have been delays in approving changes in cadre for registered nurses to officer status, as well as a review of allowances for NYSC graduate nurses.

2. Insufficient Advocacy for Nurses’ Rights: There is a growing sentiment among nurses that their rights are not being adequately represented. Many face workplace challenges and instances of abuse without the support of a strong advocacy system to negotiate fair treatment and justice.

3. Lack of Transparency: Concerns have been raised about the financial governance of the union, particularly regarding monthly rebates and overall financial activities. Nurses are calling for a detailed financial report to ensure transparency in how union funds are managed.

Additional issues contributing to the unrest include low morale, stagnation of professional growth, and a general loss of trust in union leadership.

Young nurses in Kano State are demanding immediate action to address these pressing concerns. If these issues remain unresolved, they may feel compelled to sever ties with the union altogether.

“We urge the management and leadership of NANNM to take these concerns seriously and engage with the necessary authorities to improve the welfare of nurses in our state,” said a representative of the concerned nurses. “Failure to act promptly may leave us with no choice but to pursue separation from the union.”

The situation remains fluid as nurses await a response from union leadership regarding their demands.

One of the nurses who pleaded anonymity released their stand to news men in Kano.

#
Continue Reading

Health

Kano Vows to Mitigate Cholera Outbreak

Published

on

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim

The Kano State government has said that it has taken proactive measures to safeguard people against the Cholera outbreak.

Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, made this disclosure on the “Zauren Premier” program at Premier Radio Kano.

He explained that, in response to the pandemic’s spread across 31 states in Nigeria, the Kano government has launched a sensitization campaign to educate people, particularly in rural areas, on how to protect themselves.

Although Cholera has not been reported in Kano, with no cases recorded in any local government area, Mr. Yusuf explained that the government has procured medicines to combat the disease in the event of an outbreak. Dr. Yusuf attributed the state’s cholera-free status to the prayers of its people.

“We cannot take credit for Kano’s freedom from the pandemic; it is the people’s prayers that have helped.

As a government, we have taken necessary measures, including informing our Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) committee two weeks ago when the disease broke out in Lagos.”

“The committee, comprising health practitioners, surveillance and notification officers, health educators, and ward volunteers, is tasked with reporting any strange disease or pandemic and taking prompt measures to halt its spread,” he said.

He also said that they have designated Zana Hospital as a referral center for suspected Cholera cases. Additionally, they have embarked on a sensitization campaign targeting food vendors and fruit sellers to ensure they maintain proper hygiene practices.

We will soon distribute flyers containing information on first aid and disease prevention to hawkers and the general public. Furthermore, we have commenced treating public wells at risk of contamination in the Kano metropolis.

The Commissioner of Health urged the public to cooperate in preventing the outbreak by maintaining a clean environment and avoiding open defecation.

#

Continue Reading

Trending