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Billions More Required for UN-Backed Global Collaboration against COVID-19

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The supply of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries needs to be stepped up, according to the UN.

A new strategy announced recently by the world Health organization(WHO) calls for $23.4 billion to combat inequities in accessing COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, as cases of the disease mount globally for the first time in three months.

The funding for the Access to COVID Tools (ACT) Accelerator – the UN-backed global initiative to end the pandemic – is critical to prevent some five million additional potential deaths, as well as $5.3 trillion in global economic losses.

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Unfulfilled potential

WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said through its vaccine pillar, COVAX, the ACT Accelerator has so far delivered 425 million doses to 144 countries alone.

Nearly 130 million tests, as well as increased supply of oxygen, personal protective equipment (PPE) and treatments, have also been distributed.

“But the ACT Accelerator has so far been prevented from fulfilling its potential by severe supply and financing constraints,” said Tedros, speaking during the regular press briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva.

He warned that unless the pandemic is controlled everywhere, the virus will mutate and continue to circulate everywhere.

“The high transmissibility of the Delta variant has reinforced what we have been saying since we set up the ACT Accelerator: vaccines alone will not end the pandemic. We need all tools – vaccines, tests, treatments, PPE and public health measures – to fight COVID-19 and save lives and livelihoods now.”

Europe driving case rise

The spike in COVID-19 cases globally is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. Numbers are increasing for the first time in two months, largely due to an ongoing rise in Europe, which outweighs declines elsewhere.

Tedros said the pandemic persists mainly because inequitable access to tools persists.

“If the 6.8 billion vaccine doses administered globally so far had been distributed equitably, we would have reached our 40 per cent target in every country by now,” he told journalists.

Appeal to G20 leaders

Ahead of the G20 summit this weekend in Rome, Tedros issued an appeal to the world’s leading industrial nations, as they “have the ability to make the political and financial commitments that are needed to end this pandemic, and to prevent future crises.”

He urged leaders to fully fund the ACT Accelerator and to support creation of legally-binding global treaty on pandemic preparedness and response.  He further called for creation of a Health Threats Financing Board, supported by a Financial Intermediary Fund, hosted by the World Bank.

Actions louder than words

Despite lofty rhetoric about global solidarity, the goal of a “people’s vaccine” against COVID-19 is far from being reached, the UN and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement said in a joint statement recently.

Stressing that “it is time for actions to speak louder than words”, the partners have united to reinforce a joint call for global vaccine equity ahead of the G20 Rome summit.

“Profits and short-sighted vaccine nationalism continue to trump humanity when it comes to the equitable distribution of vaccines,” they said.

‘A humanitarian imperative’

Although some 48 per cent of the world’s population has received at least one vaccine dose, the number plummets to barely three per cent in low-income countries, and the situation is “particularly worrying” in countries suffering humanitarian crisis.

“It is a humanitarian imperative and our shared responsibility to ensure that lives everywhere are protected, not only in the few countries that have the means to buy protection,” they said.

The partners issued a five-point call to governments, partners, donors, the private sector, and other stakeholders, urging them to scale up COVID-19 vaccine supply and access to COVAX, including through donations, and to increase funding and support so that vaccines can reach all people.

They appealed for strengthening vaccine production and distribution capacity, particularly in low and middle-income countries and accelerating technology transfers, and urged manufacturers to lift all remaining barriers to allow humanitarian agencies access to vaccines.

 

 

Health

Diagnosing Cancer in a Resource-Scarce Setting: A Heartbreaking Tale of Poverty and Healthcare

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Dr Ibrahim Musa

 

By Dr Ibrahim Musa

With her beaming smile, she seemed excited that the surgeons had finally removed a growth troubling her tommy that had proven difficult to diagnose. She stretched her arm to deliver a sealed envelope containing a histology report of the growth. As an Attending, I was the only one working that day because the resident doctors were on a strike. Charmed by her smiles, I quickly opened the envelope hoping to read good news that would match her spirit and her equally excited mother. My smile froze. What should I tell her? The pathologists had made a diagnosis of a diffuse large B lymphoma. It’s quite an aggressive tumor that could overwhelm a patient within a short time.

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“Doctor, what is the report saying?” “You have cancer”, I replied. The devastating news instantly changed her mood. Breaking such bad news is a job no doctor wants to engage in. I explained the treatment options and the fact that there is a targeted therapy called Rituximab that could potentially improve survival if added to her chemotherapy. A vial of the drug costs hundreds of thousands and she would need at least 6 cycles within ~5 months of 3 weekly treatment. “Doctor, we cannot afford it,” her mother interjected.

Three months later, when I came for the ward round she had deteriorated badly. The growth is already back and almost 10 times bigger- obstructing her intestine and protruding on the anterior abdominal wall from her pelvis. She could barely breathe while struggling to hold on to her mother. As I watched her writhe in pain, I felt hopeless and sad. I felt defeated but beyond that I felt like we have all failed her. I silently fought tears as I struggled not to betray emotions. If I cry I would break the hearts of the people around at the time they needed me to give them hope. “You must be strong”, I told myself. But at that moment I was so sure that death would be a relief for her. She died the next morning unable to do even an X ray due to poverty. I keep asking myself what we can do to mitigate these unfortunate scenarios? Over 40% of the Nigerians live on less than $1 per day. With this extreme poverty, how do we expect them to shoulder the cost of exorbitant care from the angle of catastrophic spending?

Dr Ibrahim Musa is a consultant at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

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Health

Kano State Stakeholders Meet to Strengthen Health Response, Focus on COVID-19 and Other Diseases

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The stakeholders meeting

KANO- The Kano State Programs Officer for Resilient and Sustainable System for Health, Abdulhakeem Dayyab, recently led a biannual meeting in Kano aimed at bringing together stakeholders to raise awareness about deadly diseases such as HIV, COVID-19, and other severe illnesses.

The meeting sought to integrate traditional rulers into the healthcare system, ensuring the availability of health facilities in five local government areas within Kano. By involving community leaders, the aim is to facilitate smoother consultations with community members, ensuring their active participation in healthcare initiatives.

Community members, recognizing their role as privileged individuals, have taken the responsibility of ensuring the availability of health facilities, particularly at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level and dispensaries.

Abubakar Sadiq, from the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology Unit at the Kano State Ministry of Health, emphasized the significance of the response team’s role in combating deadly diseases. Their support plays a vital role in effectively addressing health challenges faced by the less privileged members of society.

The stakeholders’ meeting was convened with a specific focus on strengthening the provision of healthcare services at the community level, particularly in PHCs. The active involvement of privileged individuals in addressing health challenges aims to bridge gaps in healthcare access and ensure improved health outcomes for all segments of the population.

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Health

United States Foundation Donates Medical Equipments To FMC Gusau

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The medical equipments

 

Federal Medical Center, FMC, Gusau has received donation of Medical equipment worth millions of Naira from an American Based charity foundation.

Chief Medical Director, CMD, of the Center, Dr Bello Muhammad Kwatarkwashi revealed this to journalists while receiving containers of the equipments in Gusau

Dr Kwatarkwashi explained that, the equipment were donated to the FMC Gusau by the Project CURE foundation of the United States through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB and Support from federal ministry of Finance

He noted that, the Medical equipments received include; Operation related, ultrasound, Sterilizers, Analyzers, inspection/measurements opthalmic, monitoring x-ray and other sophisticated equipments.

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Others were Modern Hospital Beds, trolleys, Drip stands, bedside lockers, urinals/Bedpans, sputum mug, wheelchairs, Furniture, orthopedic equipments among others.

“I must sincerely appreciate and thank the Registrar of JAMB Professor Ishaq Oloyede and his Team for the kind gesture. I equally thank the Hon. Minister of Finance Haj. Zainab Shamsuna for the role she played to make this project a reality”

“Special thanks and appreciation also to Honourable Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire and state minister of Health Ekunmankama Joseph Nkama for their continues support to FMC Gusau” He said

Dr Bello Kwatarkwashi said, the FMC Gusau under his watch will continue to uphold professionalism in the discharge of its mandates, saying “our workers/staff are up and doing to ensure effective service delivery” he added

On his part the acting chairman of the FMC Gusau governing Board, Alh. Lawal M. Liman who commended the CMD for his commitments to reposition the Medical facility said, the Project CURE as well as JAMB Registerar and Ministers of Health and finance have done alot to the People of Zamfara for the donation and ensuring safe delivery of the equipments.

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