Major health News from Last week
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that malaria is responsible for an annual reduction of 1.3 per cent in Africa’s economic growth.
Last week, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Malaria Day and World Immunization Week.
The commemoration was held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed more than 3 million deaths worldwide and over 2,000 in Nigeria.
As Nigeria continues to record several new cases of COVID-19. The deadly virus is also on the decline with only two deaths recorded in the past 18 days.
Other Nigerians are still taking the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and according to data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), around 1.2 million people have received their first dose of the vaccine.
Here is a summary of the health stories that made headlines last week.
COVID-19: Nigeria handled 43 new cases as of Saturday
Nigeria on Saturday recorded 43 new COVID-19 infections in seven states across the country.
The new figures raise the total number of infections in the country to 165,153, according to an update released Saturday by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
According to the update, no new deaths have been recorded due to the virus which claimed 2,063 lives in the country.
Malaria contributes to reduced economic growth in Nigeria, other African countries – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said malaria is responsible for an annual reduction of 1.3 per cent in Africa’s economic growth.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti disclosed this in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES to commemorate the 2021 World Malaria Day (WMD).
According to Ms Moeti, for every year that malaria spread, health and development suffer the most.
Lassa Fever: Nigeria records 50 deaths as infections soar
At least 50 persons have died from Lassa fever in Nigeria, even as the country is still grappling with the scourging COVID-19 pandemic.
The figure, revealed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control as of Week 15, spanning April 12 -18, showed that Lassa fever has continued a silent ascent in fatalities and infection.
According to NCDC figures, 28 persons died between Week 7 (February 15-21) and Week 15.
Nigeria expecting 29.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine – Official
The Nigerian government says it expects to receive about 29.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines.
Nigeria won’t accept COVID-19 vaccines from private, unverified sources – Minister says
The Nigerian government, on Monday, said it will not accept vaccines from private and unverified sources.
Health minister Osagie Ehanire while speaking during a briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 said this is due to the high rate of fake COVID-19 vaccines in circulation.
The US has given out $90m to eight disadvantaged Nigerian states
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has extended $90 million to eight disadvantaged Nigerian states to tackle malaria.
This was made known in a statement on Wednesday by the US Mission in Nigeria.
COVID-19 hinders immunisation, puts millions of children at risk – WHO says
While efforts to end COVID-19 has continued to gather steam with the successful roll-out of vaccines in over a hundred countries, the pandemic continues to hinder routine immunisation services, thereby putting millions of children at risk of deadly diseases.
The second round of a World Health Organisation “pulse survey” revealed that over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial disruptions persist, with about 90 per cent of countries still reporting one or more disruptions to essential health services.
