WHO a veritable partner in achieving Nigeria’s Polio-free status, ED of NPHCDA affirms

Dr Faisal Shuaib (right) and Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo WHO Representative during the visit to NPHCDA Photo credit: WHO/Eromosele Ogbeide

Abuja, 27 July 2020 - The Executive Director (ED) of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib says, “World Health Organization (WHO) has been the government’s strongest partner in the fight against Polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in Nigeria.”

He made the assertion when he received the new WHO Nigeria Country Representative (WR), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo in his office in Abuja as part of the WR’s familiarization tour to Government parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).

WHO supports Kigoma region expand capacity to detect disease outbreaks

Participants during the training session in Kigoma

Kigoma region has frequent population movements between neighboring countries including refugees and asylum seekers that frequently cross official and informal entry points and stay in camps and in the community.

Cultural proximity and economic activities that necessitate mingling of communities in Kigoma and neighboring countries increase the risk of disease importation and transmission.

Update COVID-19 27 July 2020

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

27 July 2020 — Fifty-eight (58) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 6165 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-nine (1879). To date, nine hundred and seventy-five (975) patients have recovered and been discharged, including fifty-seven (57) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is eight hundred and ninety-nine (899) and five (5) deaths. 

Update COVID-19 26 July 2020

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

26 July 2020 — Sixty-nine (69) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4122 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one (1821). To date, nine hundred and eighteen (918) patients have recovered and been discharged, including eleven (11) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is eight hundred and ninety-eight (898) and five (5) deaths. 

Update COVID-19 25 July 2020

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

25 July 2020 — Twenty-three (23) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4330 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two (1752). To date, nine hundred and seven (907) patients have recovered and been discharged, including seven (07) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is eight hundred and forty (840) and five (5) deaths. 

Update COVID-19 24 July 2020

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

24 July 2020 — Nineteen (19) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 2491 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to one thousand, seven hundred and twenty-nine (1729). To date, nine hundred (900) patients have recovered and been discharged, including eleven (11) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is eight hundred and twenty-four (824) and five (5) deaths. 

Enhancing capacity for laboratory diagnosis for COVID-19 at Beitbridge District Hospital

Laboratory diagnosis in Beitbridge
When WHO, National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) and Medsure Healthcare teams reached Beitbridge, 640km from Harare, twelve laboratory personnel from Beitbridge Hospital had already tested more than 6000 samples for COVID-19. The tests were done using a GeneXpert machine with cartridges for COVID-19 testing and Real Time- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, similar to the rapid testing kit used for HIV. GeneXpert machines are normally used to diagnose tuberculosis.  

Over 10 000 health workers in Africa infected with COVID-19

Over 10 000 health workers in Africa infected with COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) today warned of the threat posed by COVID-19 to health workers across Africa. More than 10 000 health workers in the 40 countries which have reported on such infections have been infected with COVID-19 so far, a sign of the challenges medical staff on the frontlines of the outbreak face.