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Covid-19: Senegal hailed for developing $1 testing kits.

Senegal has been hailed as Africa’s coronavirus hero for producing $1 testing kits. Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar has developed a Covid-19 testing kit that costs $1 and can deliver results in about 10 minutes. Citizens can be tested whether they show symptoms of the deadly disease or not. The country has also developed $60 3D printed ventilators.

The testing kit was developed in collaboration with Mologic, a British biotech company. The Covid-19 test kits which won’t be ready for distribution until June can be used at home for a simple test using the saliva or a blood sample of the individual. Similar to how a pregnancy test kit works, a bloodline appears to indicate the presence or absence of the COVID-19 antibody.

Also Read: Why Emmanuel Adebayor won’t donate to Togo’s coronavirus fight.

Despite the country’s low budget for health, Senegal has recorded the highest recovery rate in Africa so far and the 3rd in the world. It has 671 cases, 283 recoveries and 9 deaths. It has also become the first country to make an order for Madagascar’s Coronavirus medicine, Covid Organics.

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WHO warns that recovered patients with antibodies not immune to coronavirus.

The World Health Organization has warned that there is no evidence yet that recovered COVID-19 patients cannot be reinfected. This warning was issued in a scientific brief as it confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide has reached 2.8million.

Also Read: Coronavirus: CACOVID orders supplies for 400,000 COVID-19 tests to increase Nigeria’s testing capacity.

“Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an ‘immunity passport’ or ‘risk-free certificate’ that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against reinfection,  there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection,” the WHO said in a statement.

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Coronavirus: CACOVID orders supplies for 400,000 COVID-19 tests to increase Nigeria’s testing capacity.

The Private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 has ordered for 250,000 supplies for tests and another 150,000 extraction kits to fast-track molecular testing for the deadly coronavirus, noting that the reality of the situation at hand was such that efforts must be put together with no stone left unturned in dealing with the scourge.

The coalition also disclosed that no less than 1.7 million households would benefit from its food relief package as part of complementary efforts to help alleviate the effects of the lockdown and restrictions adopted by governments across the nation.

Also Read: Opinion: After COVID-19, what will Africa look like in 2030 and 2063? | By: Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka

Briefing newsmen in Lagos on the group’s activities in helping the Federal Government halt the spread of the virus, leaders of CACOVID stated that the coalition has set up isolation centers in five states of Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Borno and Enugu as well as FCT, while renovations of hospitals and medical supplies are being carried out in other states.

All the partners in CACOVID are ready to roll out in all parts of the country having commenced building and equipping of isolation centers in some states. There are currently three testing platforms for molecular testing in Nigeria, one of which is the “Open PCR machines”, which the Coalition has ordered for 10 units, with eight laboratories certified to conduct COVID-19 tests.

Also Read: Jack Ma announces third donation to Africa.

“Open PCR machine is currently the standard platform. Eight labs in Nigeria are certified to conduct COVID-19 testing; 10 new PCR machines and 150,000 extraction kits have been ordered. The other is Roche Cobus Platform with 6 Machines in Nigeria, each capable of testing 960 tests at a time. Nigeria was on track to receive 38,000 but we have ordered 250,000. 10,000 tests ordered by UNICEF have arrived on Thursday, April 16. We also have Cepheid Gene Expert Machines – there are 400 machines installed in the country. 250 are expected to be functional with trained lab technicians. Cepheid has developed a COVID-19 testing cartridge that has received FDA approval, and will begin shipping to Africa in two weeks. We have ordered 250,000 cartridges and expect shipment receipt in two weeks.” A member of the CACOVID team explained.

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Jack Ma announces third donation to Africa.

Chinese billionaire and Founder of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma has made more donations to Africa. This is coming more than a month after he supported the areas of the world most affected by the Covid-19 crisis with medical supplies. The  coronavirus pandemic has put a massive strain on the world’s healthcare system, with reports of inadequate medical supplies and the deaths of hospital workers as patients numbers continue to surge.

The first batch of medical supplies were made on March 16. They comprised of 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks, 1,000 medical protective suits and face shields to each of the 54 AU Member States.

Also, on April 6, the philanthropist dispatched his second donation to Africa which included 500 ventilators, 200,000 suits and face shields, 2,000 thermometers, one million swabs, and extraction kits as well as 500,000 gloves.

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Also Read: NCDC distributes supplies from Jack Ma foundation.

He has announced another donation today, which is 500 ventilators that will be divided up among Africa’s most vulnerable countries – they have few ventilators — or none at all. Meanwhile the number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has reached 2.4 million, with most deaths coming from US: 40,400, Italy: 23,600  amd Spain: 20,595.

Asked about offering assistance despite criticism, he said “I’m extending a helping hand as a Chinese citizen and Chinese entrepreneur, and for the common conscience of mankind.” 

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Corona Virus pandemic
 Health, News

More than two million people worldwide have now contracted coronavirus.

According to Spectator Index, over two million people, 2,012,000 to be precise have now contracted the novel coronavirus. There are 127,590 deaths, and 500,000 recoveries.

Most coronavirus deaths.

US: 25,350
Italy: 21,067
Spain: 18,056
France: 15,729
UK: 12,107
Iran: 4,683
Belgium: 4,157
China: 3,341
Germany: 3,294
Netherlands: 2,945
Turkey: 1,403
Brazil: 1,378

In Africa, there are now more than over 16,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus according to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control on COVID-19 in Africa,

Major African stats as of April 15
Confirmed cases = 16,265
Number of deaths = 873
Recoveries = 3,235
Infected countries = 52
Virus-free countries = 2 (Lesotho, Comoros)

Countries in alphabetical order
Algeria – 2,070
Angola – 19
Benin – 35
Botswana – 13
Burkina Faso – 528
Burundi – 5
Cameroon – 848
Cape Verde – 11
Central African Republic – 11
Chad – 23
Comoros – 0
Congo-Brazzaville – 74
DR Congo – 241
Djibouti – 363
Egypt – 2,350
Equatorial Guinea – 41
Eritrea – 35
Eswatini – 15
Ethiopia – 82
Gabon – 57
(The) Gambia – 9
Ghana – 636
Guinea – 363
Guinea-Bissau – 43
Ivory Coast – 638
Kenya – 216
Lesotho – 0
Liberia – 59
Libya – 35
Madagascar – 108
Malawi – 16
Mali – 144
Mauritania – 7
Mauritius – 324
Morocco – 1,888
Mozambique – 28
Namibia – 16
Niger – 570
Nigeria- 373
Rwanda – 134
Sao Tome and Principe – 4
Senegal – 299
Seychelles – 11
Sierra Leone – 11
Somalia – 60
South Africa – 2,415
South Sudan – 4
Sudan – 32
Tanzania – 53
Togo – 77
Tunisia – 747
Uganda – 55
Zambia – 45
Zimbabwe – 18

Meanwhile, the European Union has made a donation of $55m to Nigeria, to boost the country’s fight against coronavirus.

Also Read: COVID-19 pandemic bolsters case for technology-based economic resilience | By: Stefan Nalletamby

“Receiving the EU delegation to the country, led by Amb Ketil Karlsen, President Buhari said the donation would go a long way in supporting Nigeria’s efforts at controlling & containing the virus to prevent community spread, as well as revitalise the national health care systems. The President used the occasion to express sincere condolences of the Government and people of Nigeria to EU-member countries and families who lost their loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the presidency confirmed in a statement.

In his remark, Ambassador/Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Ambassador Karlsen described the donation, which is through the UN COVID-19 basket fund as, so far, the largest single contribution to the response in Nigeria and the largest support that EU is providing anywhere outside Europe.

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Corona Virus pandemic
 Health

Places in the world with no case of the Covid-19.

These are all the places in the world without a case of coronavirus and that’s good to know.

With the number of coronavirus cases worldwide passing 1.1 million and Italy, Spain and US recording the most deaths: 14,681, 11,198 and 7,064 cases respectively, it is important to know that there are still 19 countries across the world which have not reported cases of the pandemic.

Also Read: Covid-19: The world’s largest critical care unit unveiled in London.

Most of the unaffected areas are islands with no land borders and with few visitors. Infact, according to UN data they are seven of the world’s 10 least-visited places. There are still 19 countries across the world which have not reported cases. They include Comoros, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, North Korea, Palau, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Yemen.

Most corona deaths worldwide.

Italy: 14,681
Spain: 11,198
US: 7,064
France: 6,507
UK: 3,611
China: 3,322
Iran: 3,294
Netherlands: 1,487
Germany: 1,275
Belgium: 1,143
Switzerland: 604
Turkey: 425
Sweden: 351
Brazil: 327
Portugal: 246
Indonesia: 181
Canada: 178
Korea: 174

World: 58,433 (Source Twitter)

 

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Covid-19: The world’s largest critical care unit unveiled in London.

Completed in 10 days!

As part of its fight against the corona virus crisis, the U.K.today opened the world’s largest critical care unit. The Prince of Wales joined the opening ceremony of the NHS Nightingale Hospital, which was set up in London’s massive ExCel center in Docklands.

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HRH princes of Wales, Prince Charles, who is in self-isolation for a week after testing positive to the virus joined the ceremony via video link from Birkhall, Scotland and said the hospital was “an intensely practical message of hope at this time of national suffering.”

Headded, “let us pray, ladies and gentlemen, that it will be required for as short a time, and for as few people as possible, I need hardly say that the name of this hospital could not have been more aptly chosen. Florence Nightingale, the Lady with the Lamp, brought hope and healing to thousands in their darkest hour. In this dark time, this place will be a shining light. It is symbolic of the selfless care and devoted service taking place in innumerable settings, with countless individuals, throughout the United Kingdom.”

The hospital boasts of 500 intensive care beds which will be extended with another 3,500 beds as the need for intensive care for COVID-19 cases arises. Military personnel helped to build the 80 wards in the new hospital.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and NHS staff stand on marks on the ground to help with social distancing at the opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre in London today

Members of the military stand outside the NHS Nightingale Hospital in East London yesterday

It has 175 internal fire doors, 6 emergency exit doors installed to industry standards in under 10 days.

Also Read WHO concerned as COVID-19 cases accelerate in Africa

Natalie Grey, head of nursing at NHS Nightingale hospital (centre) is watched by Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) as she unveils a plaque on behalf of the Prince of Wales at the opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London this morning

Figures from the British Department of Health figures reveals that a total of 163,194 people have been tested and 33,718 tested positive.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock – who also recently came out of quarantine after contracting the virus said the construction of the hospital was “testament to the work and the brilliance of the many people involved”, and it showed the “best of the NHS. In these troubled times with this invisible killer stalking the whole world, the fact that in this country we have the NHS is even more valuable than before,” he said.

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WHO concerned as COVID-19 cases accelerate in Africa

With more than 6000 COVID-19 cases reported in Africa, the virus is threatening fragile health systems on the continent. Infections are increasingly spreading not only between African countries but within different localities in the hardest-hit countries.

For instance, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where COVID-19 cases were at first confined to Kinshasa, now a handful of cases have been reported in the easternmost regions of the country that were until recently in the grip of an Ebola outbreak. In South Africa, all provinces have now reported cases. The outbreaks in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Senegal are also widespread.

“It’s also crucial that the international community promptly provide the considerable funding needed to maintain and scale up assistance programmes.”

As well as ensuring basic needs are met, WHO is pursuing innovative solutions to the region’s pressing public health problems. On 1 April 2020, WHO hosted an online training session on the clinical management of COVID-19 cases. Nearly 500 attendees from across Africa logged in to learn about issues including case characterization and triage, treating severely ill cases, infection prevention and control, and how to quarantine and manage cases in the community. WHO also hosted a three-day ‘hackathon’, bringing together Africa’s brightest minds to find solutions to some of the problems COVID-19 has presented.

“Case numbers are increasing exponentially in the African region,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa “It took 16 days from the first confirmed case in the Region to reach 100 cases. It took a further 10 days to reach the first thousand. Three days after this, there were 2000 cases, and two days later we were at 3000.”

To contain COVID-19, many countries in Africa are implementing measures, which restrict gatherings and the movement of people. Nationwide lockdowns are in effect in Kenya, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo and elsewhere. However, governments must use these measures in a considered, evidence-based manner, and make sure that people can continue to access basic necessities.

As many people in the region live in crowded conditions or work in the informal sector and need to earn money daily to survive, it is important that countries make provisions to ensure that people can still access essential services. WHO is working closely with national governments and United Nations partners including the World Food Programme (WFP) to plan for these needs.

Dr Moeti and Ms Lola Castro, the WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa, addressed the restrictive measures during a virtual media briefing held today by the WHO Regional Office for Africa with the support of the World Economic Forum.

“For socially restrictive measures to be effective, they must be accompanied by strong, sustained and targeted public health measures that locate, isolate, test and treat COVID-19 cases,” Dr Moeti pointed out.

“It’s vital that ports continue to operate to receive food and other essential humanitarian cargo; that borders and roads stay open so it can be moved where it is most needed; and that distributions to vulnerable people are conducted safely,” said Ms Castro.

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 Health

NCDC distributes supplies from Jack Ma foundation.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), today confirmed the distribution of the supplies made by, Jack Ma Foundation, a charitable organization established in 2014 by Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group.
Recall that a week ago, the Chinese billionaire supported the areas of the world most affected by the Covid-19 crisis, sourcing and delivering various types of medical supplies to Asia, United States, Africa, Italy, Belgium, France, Slovenia, Spain and Latin America.
The supplies arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at 3:20 p.m on March 25, 2020. They include 20,000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100,000 medical masks, and 1,000 protective suits and face shields.

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“We’re grateful for the support from @foundation_ma  in strengthening Nigeria’s response to #COVID19 The supplies received have been distributed to states accordingly, with priority given to states with the highest number of cases at the time of distribution.” The NCDC tweeted.

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 Health

REPORT: Pneumonia accounts for 16% of all deaths of children under the age of 5 years.

To mark the World Pneumonia Day, civil society organizations from Africa and Haiti are asking their governments to step-up to eradicate Pneumonia which is responsible for more child mortalities than any other diseases like AIDS, Malaria and Measles combined.
Speaking at a conference on how to end Pneumonia in Africa, Mr. Aboubakar SYLLA, the President of ONG AGIS, said that “Despite the efforts that have been made so far, much more work still needs to be done, particularly in poor communities. Every child, regardless of where they were born, need to access life-saving vaccines and medicines.”
The most affected children live in poor and rural communities in many African countries. These are areas that often lack access to vaccines and other prevention and treatment tools.
Today, 1 million children’s lives could be saved with more prevention and treatment interventions. Unfortunately, the vaccine against Pneumonia is the most expensive, making it’s sustainability a great challenge for countries that are transitioning from GAVI’s support. Also, many people are still not aware of its overwhelming death-toll, and this has led its prioritization to be overshadowed on the global health agenda. It also gets very little attention in the media.
It is therefore important for African governments to allocate more finances for immunization and broaden vaccines access within their countries during routine vaccination campaigns, for the disease to be eliminated.
Pneumonia can be easily prevented using vaccines and treated with medicine. There is evidence of commendable progress towards its elimination such as the drop in annual deaths from 1.7 million to an estimated 920,000 between 2000 and 2015.
African governments need to honor their commitments to Immunization and shape the vaccine market to ensure sustainability for the Pneumonia vaccine.
To ensure that governments stick to their commitments, the civil society organizations are amplifying their voices for (a) more financial investment for Immunization by governments, (b) scale-up of vaccination campaigns to reach the most remote locations and (c) for more  community sensitization to demand for immunization services from their leaders during this key campaign date of the 33 Days to Power Up Immunization.”

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