Coronavirus
UN’s COVID-19 basket fund donates N26 billion worth of medical supplies to FG
Federal Ministry of Health revealed that the supplies were received from the EU Delegation to Nigeria.
The Federal Government has received the 2nd batch of essential medical supplies purchased by the United Nations (UN) Basket fund for COVID-19 response.
The N26 billion worth of supplies were received by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, and other stakeholders at the Cargo Section of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
The National coordinator Dr Sani Aliyu appreciated @UN_Nigeria, @EUinNigeria & @WHONigeria for this generous donation. pic.twitter.com/EYY2C7sAno
— Federal Ministry of Health, NIGERIA (@Fmohnigeria) July 31, 2020
In a tweet on its official handle, the Federal Ministry of Health revealed that the supplies were received from the Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Alexander Borges–Gomes, who coordinated the handing over of the medical supplies.
The medical supplies handed over include 500,000 face shields; 200,000 goggles; 100 oro-pharyngeal airways; 10,000 bio-hazard bags; and 14,000 safety boxes.
Borges–Gomes disclosed during the handover, that the items were procured through the One United Nations COVID-19 Basket Fund from a significant contribution from the European Union of €50 million (N26 billion).
Borges-Gomes noted that the first batch had arrived mid-June and it is part of the efforts of Team Europe – the EU and its MSs to counter the worldwide ravages of COVID-19; and expressed hope that the equipment would boost the Nigerian Government’s response efforts and in particular, protect the heroic frontline health workers.
Mr Alexandre Borges-Gomes in his remarks stated that these medical supplies were procured by one #UN COVID19 Response Basket to help protect our frontliners in the fight against #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Cfmpv0N6kh
— Federal Ministry of Health, NIGERIA (@Fmohnigeria) July 31, 2020
Why this matters
Speaking at the handover, Ehanire said this 2nd Batch of medical supplies would allay the fears of Nigerian health workers, especially the frontline health workers, who were worried that Nigeria might be running short of essential medical supplies. They even threatened to embark on a strike.
The Minister added that there are arrangements in place through institutions and international friends like the EU and the UN to continue replenishing the medical supplies. He also assured the UN envoy that the medical supplies will be judiciously distributed.
Backstory
The UN COVID-19 Basket fund was launched in April 2020, by the UN system in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Government.
The aim of the basket fund was to complement ongoing efforts to mobilise resources in support of the National COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Pandemic Response Plan, developed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The Basket Fund serves as the One COVID-19 Financing and Investment Platform for diverse stakeholders (UN and other multilaterals, bilaterals, private sector, foundations, philanthropists, among others) to channel their financial support to ensure an efficient, effective and impactful response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 29th of November 2020, 82 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 67,412 confirmed cases.
On the 29th of November 2020, 82 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria, having carried out a total daily test of 7,101 samples across the country.
To date, 67,412 cases have been confirmed, 63,055 cases have been discharged and 1,173 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 756,237 tests have been carried out as of November 29th, 2020 compared to 749,136 tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 29th November 2020,
- Total Number of Cases – 67,412
- Total Number Discharged – 63,055
- Total Deaths – 1,173
- Total Tests Carried out – 756,237
According to the NCDC, the 82 new cases were reported from 11 states- Lagos (48), Rivers (8), Kwara (6), Yobe(6), Katsina (5), FCT(3), Nasarawa(2), Plateau (1), Ogun (1), Kano (1) and Osun(1)
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 23,238, followed by Abuja (6,770), Plateau (3,858), Oyo (3,721), Kaduna (3,064), Rivers (2,985), Edo (2,696), Ogun (2,223), Delta (1,824), Kano (1,795), Ondo (1,728), Enugu (1,332), Kwara (1,102), Ebonyi (1,055), Katsina (1,030), Osun (946), Gombe (938). Abia (926), Bauchi (770), and Borno (745).
Imo State has recorded 662 cases, Benue (496), Nasarawa (493), Bayelsa (445), Ekiti (365), Akwa Ibom (339), Jigawa (331), Niger (298), Anambra (285), Adamawa (261), Sokoto (165), Taraba (159), Yobe (100), Kebbi (93), Cross River (90), Zamfara (79), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Western diplomats warn of disease explosion, poor handling by government
Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
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Coronavirus
Covid-19: Victims Support Fund launches N3.3 billion intervention fund
The VSF has launched a N3.3 billion intervention fund, targeting one million households most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
The Victims Support Fund (VSF), a foundation for supporting victims of terrorism has announced that the launch of a N3.3 billion COVID-19 intervention fund, targeting one million households most affected by the pandemic in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsuji, Chairperson, VSF Task Force on COVID-19, on Saturday in Kano.
Mrs. Akerele-Ogunsuji disclosed on Saturday that VSF has already spent N1.8 billion in the first phase of its COVID-19 intervention through the provision of food and other relief materials, adding that N832 million was spent under the second phase of the programme.
READ: Agriculture: AfDB to invest $25 billion in Nigeria, Senegal, 3 others
She added that for the 3rd phase of the scheme, N1.3 billion will be spent until the end of the year.
“The total amount will be around N3.3 billion. It includes the money spent on the provision of 54 solar powered boreholes installed in schools across 18 states in the six geo-political zones of the county.
“The VSF is also donating 60, 000 pieces of COVID-19 rapid test kits to support opening of the orientation camps of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the coming weeks.
READ: Nigeria spends N8 billion annually to import vaccines
“We are targeting indigent and vulnerables households in the country, that is very important to us, and by the time we have done this intervention we will have over one million individuals who have been touched by the VSF interventions,” she said.
She also revealed that the fund has also provided medical items and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers, in 16 of the 30 states in the six geo-political zones of the country.
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What you should know
Victims Support Fund, joins other private and public sector initiatives including the Coalition Alliance Against COVID-19 CACOVID which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed has so far incurred an expenditure of N43.27billion on the acquisition of, not only medical equipment and supplies but also food palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians.
READ: Terrorism: Nigeria records 39.1% reduction in deaths – GTI Report
Nairametrics reported that CACOVID announced plans to deploy over N150 billion towards the setting up and implementation of a youth development programme. It also announced they have budgeted nothing less than N250 billion to rehabilitate damaged police stations across the country and solve the issue of unemployment.
Coronavirus
Covid-19: UK to approve Pfizer, BioTNech vaccine, to start immunization December 7
The UK government is set to approve the COVID-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc next week.
The global reception of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc in collaboration with BioNTech following the positive outcome of its phase 3 trial, seems to have intensified as it is set for approval by the UK medical regulator.
According to Reuters, a report from Financial Times on Saturday suggests that deliveries would commence within hours of the authorization with the first immunizations using the BioNTech and Pfizer vaccine possibly taking place from December 7.
The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, had earlier in the day, named Nadhim Zahawi, who is the current junior business minister, as the minister responsible for the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.
The UK government has placed an order for 40 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, which has been found to be 95% effective in the final analysis of the phase 3 trials in preventing the spread of a virus that has killed over 1.4 million people across the world with its devastating impact on the global economy.
The UK government had on November 20, formally asked its medical regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), to conduct a study of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine with a view to determining its suitability, the first step in making it available outside the United State
The government which had secured 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and University of Oxford had also asked the regulator on Friday to assess the vaccine for a possible rollout before Christmas.
What you should know: The US drugmaker, Pfizer Inc, on November 18, 2020, announced that a final analysis of clinical-trial data of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine, which it is developing in collaboration with BioTNech, showed it was 95% effective, thereby paving the way for the company to apply for the first U.S. regulatory authorization for a coronavirus shot.
Pfizer said they had no serious safety concerns in a trial that involves almost 44,000 participants as their vaccine protected people of all ages and ethnicities.
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