COVID-19
Global Fund: Nigeria receives $890 million to tackle HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria
Nigeria has received an $890 million grant from the Global Fund to reduce the burden of HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria over an implementation period of three years, beginning from 2021 to 2023. The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, announced the receipt of the grant at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja. The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) is an innovative international financing mechanism established by the United Nations in 2002, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It is a global partnership of governments, civil society and private donors. It was established for the purpose of attracting, leveraging and investing resources to fund public health interventions to accelerate the eradication of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in affected high burden ...
Actionaid Nigeria calls for declaration of state of emergency on rape
Actionaid Nigeria has called on the federal government to declare state of emergency on rape, following the alarming cases of rape across the country. Country Director of Actionaid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi made the call during a one-day Women’s summit on preventing violent extremism in Nasarawa state. Obi, who was represented by the Manager, Humanitarian and Resilience, David Habba, stated that Nasarawa state currently has the worst case of rape, where a three-month old baby was raped by a 27-year-old man. She explained that while women rarely take part in conflict, they are often the most affected, ranging from psychological, emotional, physical to mental loss which continues decades after the conflict has ended. The Actionaid country director expressed concern over the rising number of sexua...
Two coronavirus vaccines proven safe for human – research
Two coronavirus vaccine have proven safe for humans and produced strong immune reactions among patients involved in separate clinical trials, doctors said Monday. The first trial among more than 1,000 adults in Britain found that the vaccine-induced “strong antibody and T cell immune responses” against the novel coronavirus. A separate trial in China involving more than 500 people showed most had developed widespread antibody immune response. The studies, published in The Lancet medical journal, constitute a major step on the road towards a COVID-19 vaccine that is effective and safe for widespread use. The authors of the studies said that they encountered a few adverse side effects from the vaccine candidates. However, they cautioned that more research was needed, particularly among older...
Hospital suspends operations after healthcare workers test positive for coronavirus
iStock Zvishavane District Hospital in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province has suspended admissions and other health care services after 25 workers tested positive for COVID-19. Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima, also the provincial COVID-19 taskforce chairperson, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Harare. The health workers that tested positive were mostly nurses and three officials from the district registrar’s office. The latest infections put to the fore concerns by health workers at the front that they remain at high risk from contracting the virus. Three other healthcare workers at Claybank Private Hospital in Gweru, also in the Midlands Province, have also tested positive to the virus. This had added to the increasing number of infected healthcare workers after at least...
Kansas City’s Dancefestopia Postponed Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Back in May 2020, we reported that organizers of the Kansas City electronic music festival Dancefestopia had announced the news that state and county officials gave them permission to move forward with the event’s 2020 edition. After being given the green-light, representatives acknowledged that “the situation could change.” Due to the unrelenting impact of COVID-19, they have officially announced Dancefestopia’s postponement to September 9th to 12th, 2021. The 2020 edition of Dancefestopia was set to feature many major dance music artists, including headliners GRiZ, Zeds Dead, and REZZ, along with Borgore, 12th Planet, Subtronics, Wuki, G Jones, and TroyBoi, among many others. However, a number of artists disassociated themselves from the brand...
FAAN lied against Governor Fintiri – aide
The government of Adamawa State has denied allegations by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that state governor Ahmadu Fintiri had failed to observe COVID-19 public health protocols last Tuesday at Port Harcourt airport, suggesting that the claim was politically-motivated. The Director-General, Media and Communication to Fintiri, Solomon Kumangar, said that FAAN’s allegations were a far cry from the events that took place at the airport, declaring that the governor had observed all the protocols he was asked to follow. The governor’s aide said Fintiri was in Port Harcourt that Tuesday night where he attended a strategic meeting ahead of the Edo election with other PDP governors at the instance of the River State Governor, Nyesom Wike before he (Fintiri) addressed the press o...
Zimbabwe journalist arrested amid storm over $60m Covid-19 supplies scandal
Zimbabwean police on Monday arrested an investigative journalist who exposed alleged corruption in the procurement of Covid-19 medical supplies, a matter that involves the first family. Hopewell Chin’ono’s lawyers said he was “abducted” by eight state security agents who did not produce a search warrant. One of the lawyers, Beatrice Mtetwa, said she went to Mr Chin’ono’s residence after getting an “SOS that his home was surrounded by state security agents”. Ms Mtetwa described the arrest as an abduction, saying the state agents broke into the house. Via Twitter, the Committee to Protect Journalists called Mr Chin’ono’s immediate release, saying he was “abducted from his home by police”. It added, “Authorities must stop harassing Hopewell Chin’ono and focus on the real criminals. Do the the...
The Once-Named “Herd Immunity Fest” Seeks Fans’ Help in Setting Up Festival Grounds
The three-day rock festival previously referred to as “Herd Immunity Fest” is scheduled to kick off tomorrow (July 16th) outside the Q&Z Expo Center in Ringle, Wisconsin. With one day to go, organizers are seeking fans to help set up the festival’s site following some rough weather in the area. The Mini Fest, as it is now called, was met with backlash when it was first announced in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as the “Herd Immunity Fest” last month. The festival’s announcement came as health experts and promoters have predicted concerts and festivals wouldn’t return in earnest until 2021. Nonpoint, one of the headliners, immediately dropped off the bill upon hearing the festival’s name. And there have been numerous lineup changes since the initial announcement. Of the initia...
Rita Wilson Says COVID-19 Face Mask Debate ‘Doesn’t Make Sense’
Rita Wilson says wearing a face mask during a pandemic should be as normal and unquestioned as brushing one’s teeth twice a day. “Why wouldn’t you wear a mask if it’s good for your health?” she asks. “It doesn’t make sense.” Wilson, who spoke to Gayle King on Friday’s CBS This Morning, was one of the first Hollywood figures diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, back in March, along with husband Tom Hanks. In April, the actress chatted with King and revealed her symptoms including extreme fatigue, body aches, irritability, discomfort, loss of taste and smell, and a 102-degree fever. After recovering from the disease, both Hanks and Wilson have been vocal about the importance of following CDC measures, such...
London Ravers Clash with Police After Underground Rave Shut Down
Over the weekend, riot police were sent to shut down an illicit underground rave at a community center in London. When officers arrived on the scene, a clash with attendees ensued, leading to multiple arrests and injuries. In a statement obtained by NME, Lucy D’Orsi, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, condemned the underground event and stated that there will be increased police presence to prevent future gatherings. “The violence and disorder they encountered is totally unacceptable, as is the fear I am sure this generates amongst the local community, who called the police for help,” she said. “In this case the irresponsible actions of the organiser led to injuries to our officers. Under no circumstance will policing accept this, partic...
Adamawa governor urges prayers to end insurgency, kidnapping, coronavirus
Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa on Sunday appealed to religious leaders to intensify prayers to end insurgency, kidnapping and COVID-19 pandemic. Fintiri made the appeal at the inauguration of new executive officers of Zawiyyatu Dariqatit Tijjaniyat Foundation of Nigeria, Adamawa branch in Yola. The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Alhaji Bamanga Nuhu, said kidnapping, insurgency and the pandemic were among major challenges slowing the nation’s development. Fintiri expressed readiness to support religious bodies to ensure peaceful coexistence among faithful in the state. He congratulated the new executive officers and urged them to contribute their time and experience for the success of the Foundation. The governor advised members of the Foundation to embrace ...
NITDA warns Nigerians on fake news
Commonwealth of Nations In line with its efforts at enlightening Nigerians on the nefarious actions of cybercriminals exploiting the COVID-19 Pandemic to mislead and defraud unsuspecting victims, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has warned the general public on the recent fake news in circulation. A statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs & External Relations Corporate at NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, said that the fake news tagged “Argentina Is Doing It”, being circulated over social media, particularly on WhatsApp, is aimed at causing panic and inducing terror in individuals. According to the statement, the message warns the recipient not to open a video file called ”Argentina Is Doing It” as it will hack their phone in 10 seconds. In order to lend credibili...
