Update COVID-19 29 October 2020
29 October 2020 — Two (2) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 1725 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to five thousand, one hundred, and thirty-one (5131). To date, four thousand, eight hundred, and fifty-one (4851) patients have recovered, with no one in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is two hundred and forty-five (245) and thirty-five (35) deaths.
The new cases are in Kigali (1), and Nyagatare (1); heightened vigilance is required everywhere.
Burkina-Faso: WHO supports the Ministry of Health in the establishment and training of a national experts group on Sexual and Reproductive Health
WHO Maintains Grade 3 Health Emergency in north-east Nigeria
Maiduguri, 30 October, 2020 - The 9th Joint Operations Review of WHO health emergency operations in the north-east Nigeria has resolved to maintain the grading of the humanitarian health emergency declared in 2016. WHO graded the emergency at grade 3 owing to its severity and impact on public health which significantly reduces access to basic health services and renders the population vulnerable to disease outbreaks, malnutrition, injuries and mental health.
COVID-19 spurs health innovation in Africa
Accelerating the elimination of bilharzia in South Sudan amid the COVID-19 pandemic
On a busy Sunday morning at Rumbuol village in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, the bilharzia mass drug distributors started their daily house-to-house visit to ensure they reach eligible children, regardless of whether they are infected or not, to receive the treatment they need.
With a broad smile of hope on his face, Ateny Kuel, a 10-year-old received his first-ever dose of bilharzia treatment. He is among the over 700 000 children receiving treatment from mass drug administration.
Update COVID-19 28 October 2020
28 October 2020 — Forty-five (45) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 1619 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to five thousand, one hundred, and twenty-nine (5129). To date, four thousand, eight hundred, and fifty-one (4851) patients have recovered, with no one in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is two hundred and forty-three (243) and thirty-five (35) deaths.
When an Electricity Dam Construction Site was Turned into a COVID-19 Treatment Facility
Kampala, 28 October 2020: - There is a beehive of activity at the construction site of Achwa Hydro-Power Plant (AHPP) in Pader district, Northern Uganda, about 100 Kms from Gulu City. People and machines pace up and down with a determination of beating a set deadline – kind of a race against time.
Bulawayo and Harare health care workers gain new skills on management of stress, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Tatenda Chimbwanda
Update COVID-19 26 October 2020
26 October 2020 — Seven (7) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 1736 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to five thousand, and seventy-three (5073). To date, four thousand, eight hundred, and forty-eight (4848) patients have recovered, including eighteen (18) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one hundred and ninety-one (191) and thirty-four (34) deaths.
The new cases are in Kigali (5), and Nyagatare (1); heightened vigilance is required everywhere.
Shoring up COVID-19 prevention in Nigeria’s border states
Lagos, 27 October, 2020 - Border security officers in Nigeria already contend with a raft of challenges in deterring illegal traffic and ensuring safety. In Ogun state in the country’s south-west where the country’s first COVID-19 case was detected, they are now also helping to curb the importation of COVID-19.
Ogun state borders Benin and has about five official border crossings. It is a priority region in the battle against the virus of which there have been over 58 000 cases nationwide since February.